In today's world, women are standing shoulder to shoulder with men in safeguarding the nation. One such remarkable woman is Kiran Bedi. On June 9, she celebrates her 76th birthday as India's first female IPS officer. Before her, no woman had participated in the police administrative services. Kiran Bedi set her sights on becoming an IPS officer, prepared for the UPSC exam, and successfully passed it, inspiring countless other women to join the police force. Let's explore some fascinating aspects of her life on this special occasion.

Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949, in Amritsar, Punjab. Her father was Prakash La Peshawaria, and her mother was Prem Lata. In her childhood, she was affectionately called Kimi. Her family originally hailed from Peshawar, but her great-grandfather, Lala Hargobind Peshawaria, moved to Amritsar in 1860. Kiran spent her early years near the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

She completed her primary education at Sacred Heart Convent School and later earned a Master's degree in Political Science from Punjab University. Following this, she pursued a law degree (LLB) from Delhi University and obtained a PhD in Social Sciences from IIT Delhi in 1993.

Kiran Bedi has always been known for her strong personality. When her father bought a Luna scooter, she became the first girl in her city to ride a moped. Her father was a tennis player, which inspired Kiran to take up the sport. During her studies in Amritsar, she began playing tennis and eventually became an Asian champion.

From a young age, Kiran was passionate about making a difference for her country and for women. It is said that during a relative's wedding, she was disheartened by the dowry system and returned home without eating or drinking. Determined to raise awareness against dowry, she began her career as a lecturer at Khalsa College in Amritsar in 1970.

Shortly after her marriage, Kiran Bedi left for IPS training in July 1972. She was later posted in Delhi, where she took to the streets to clear traffic jams by removing illegally parked vehicles, including those of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the CBI director.

From May 28, 2016, to February 16, 2021, Kiran served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. She began her service as an IPS officer in 1972 and voluntarily retired in 2007 after nearly 35 years, having held the position of Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development.