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Understandably, the virtue of Vipassana is there, but then so is
the constant reminder to the police force that it is under an
oath to protect the Constitution and the law, and that for
discharging this duty it need not wait for the orders. Read as a
whole, the book also reminds police personnel that, as it is,
they are subjected to frequent transfers, therefore, one more,
while working with a clear conscience, will not substantially
alter their lot.
While on the
police, a reader can guess the kind of wall she is up against
when she has to remind time and again that her effort has been
at preventing crime and correcting criminals rather than proving
her efficiency by allowing crime to take place and then
apprehending criminals. The transition from ‘Wet Delhi’ to
West Delhi and the chapter Zero Tolerance is ample proof
of the holistic approach that has been her hallmark. Perhaps,
there is also a teacher in her who is ever striving to harden
the backbones and soften hearts. The archaic nature of the
Indian Police Act, 1861, too weighs heavy on her mind.
Women naturally
occupy much of the space and, both, bluntly and subtly, she
emphasises the role of the parents in preparing the girl child
to meet the challenges of life. This is a recurring theme, all
the more important since she admits that conditions and
safeguards regarding the safety of girls after sunset remain
unaltered even today. However, one cannot help but notice that
the only time Kiran Bedi does not have a clear cut answer is in Not
Born Free, where a computer software engineer is reduced to
the status of a commodity placed in the corner of the owners
choice. But then that seems to be the admission of the fact that
in our zeal to change and give a humane face to society we can
go only thus far and no further. Perhaps conditions will change,
when following her exhortations to NCC cadets to join either the
Army or the police, or even politics in large numbers in order
to bring about the desired transformation.
Finally, even
before putting down the book, one can debate if her services are
needed more with the United Nations rather than India where many
more Kiran Bedis are needed.
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WHEN
Indian women-in-police made history by coming together for a
conference, Suzette Davenport, Chief Superintendent of the British
Police, told them that they "were up against an elephant"
and that they needed to "eat it." To this Jenny Daisley
had added, "Remember to eat it bit by bit." The truth,
though, is that Kiran Bedi has been eating the elephant for much of
her life, often biting the tusk, and one can be reasonably sure that
with her passion and fearlessness she has contributed in bringing
change in the lives of countless people.
