Mukesh Khanna's Message

Very popular hero of children known as Shaktimaan, Mr. Mukesh Khanna conveys his best wishes and blessings to me. Mr. Khanna has written the wonderful Foreword for my book based on the life & times of Dr. Kiran Bedi, called "KIRAN BEDI: The Woman of Substance".

TV9 Interview- Dec 24, 2011

Book Launch Coverage & Interview in TV9 Gujarat, on Dec 24, 2011; in Amdavad Live at 10: 30 PM.

Dr. Kiran Bedi's Message

Dr. Kiran Bedi conveying her best wishes & blessings to me for writing a book on her life for youths, 'KIRAN BEDI: The Woman of Substance'.

Kiran Bedi captured in book for teens

18-year-old Siddharth Iyer has penned a book on Kiran Bedi capturing her work. The book is meant for young people

‘A tribute from a student’
The book tells the story of Kiran Bedi, the first woman IPS officer. “I am indeed grateful to Dr. Bedi who has been a tremendous source of support to me. This book is a tribute to her from one of her students,” Iyer said.

It’s for young people: Kiran Bedi
Talking about the book, Kiran Bedi said: “Iyer is a very hard-working and focussed student. His book is meant for young minds,” she said.

DNA (Daily News & Analysis)
Sunday | Spetember 25, 2011

By Kinjal Desai | Ahmedabad

He is evidently in awe of Kiran Bedi for he finds it difficult to articulate in speech why the former IPS officer is an inspiration for youths like him. Siddharth Iyer, an 18-year-old student of CU Shah College, met Bedi in person for the first time in June 2010 when he stayed at her NGO, Navjyoti India Foundation, in New Delhi for a fortnight. In little over one year after that, he has written a book on her, on what it means to be Kiran Bedi. The book titled, 'Kiran Bedi: A Woman of Substance', is about to be published.

Calling himself Bedi's 'student', Iyer said there are many books on her "There are tons of books on Dr Bedi all around us. Then there are the books she herself has written. However, all this is too much text for young minds like ours. Hence I got the idea of writing a book on her for teens," said Iyer.

As he spoke, he could not help gesturing a lot as he tried to explain why Bedi was important even for young minds. The way she had lived her life, and what she has been working for after taking voluntary retirement, are all important for Iyer. Hence he had decided to write down for teenagers what he had heard from her and what he had witnessed as she worked indefatigably.

Iyer said he had visited and met her at her house at Uday Park' in New Delhi. His book documents an average day in Bedi's life, her conversations with people at different times either on the phone, or in person.

Incidentally, the first time Iyer talked to Bedi was also on the phone. In 2009, Iyer, then a student of Asia English School, was selected under a special scholarship program to represent India as its cultural ambassador to Japan.

He visited Japan, from December 3-17, 2009, under the Japan-East Asia Network of Students and Youths Programme of American Field Service.

“I called her on phone as I wanted to place her as an example before the Japanese of how an Indian woman can become a phenomenal agent of change in the country. Then she talked to me half-an-hour explaining why I should not talk about her but her work. I have been associated with her since then.” Iyer said.

The Kiran Bedi Interview

Kiran Bedi- A Phenomenon who is universally loved, respected and admired! But what makes her different? This interview aims to explore former IPS officer Kiran Bedi’s personality through the eyes of a teenager (Myself) who holds her as an inspiration. It describes the fascinating journey of Kiran Bedi’s life from her childhood to the present times. She emerges through this interview as a multifaceted visionary, with an abiding interest in social service, motivating youngsters apart from her 35 long years of experience in the Indian police service. However, what stands out most is her intense humanism.

(This article of my interview with Dr. Kiran Bedi is published in the August issue of GLS Voice, a monthly newsletter published by Gujarat Law Society.)

Meeting Dr. Kiran Bedi

Ahmedabad
May 06, 2011

Meeting Dr. Kiran Bedi at Hotel Courtyard Marriott. Dr. Bedi and myself are seen holding her portrait made by me.

A day with SHAKTIMAAN...

April 16, 2011
Mumbai

It was indeed a memorable day when I met my favorite childhood superhero Shaktimaan alias Actor Mukesh Khanna at his office in Mumbai's famous Thakur Complex. I was meeting him for the second time now after a gap of 13 long years. I had first met him as a kid in the year 1998 during his visit to Ahmedabad as he was dressed in his Shaktimaan outfit.

Mukesh ji told me that our country needed a good dictator with national feelings who can give wings to the nation's progress. He must be one who has no relatives in power. Also his anger towards the Indian media was clearly seen. Today all channels care nothing except their TRPs and viewer ships. Their seriousness has been completely faded.

He was all praise for the will power and courage of the Japanese people who have recently passed through a difficult phase of natural disasters and radiation after-shocks. We both agreed upon how the Japanese had true national feelings and a deep sense of humanity. While I was fortunate enough to witness the compassion of the Japanese people during my visit to Japan in 2009.

Mukesh Khanna is still very popular for his roles as the first Indian superhero Shaktimaan & Bheeshm Pitamah in Mahabharat TV series.