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.

Depicting Gandhi, the Obama way...

DNA carried my article on Wednesday (Nov 10, 2010) based upon my painting of US President Barack Obama being depicted as Mahatma Gandhi.

I have depicted US President Barack Obama as clad in Gandhian attire and even wielding a stick like the Mahatma, while Bapu himself is visible in the background. The painting is titled, "OBAMAHATMA?", and bears a slogan that reads, "Mahatma maraa nahi hai… zinda hai (The Mahatma is not dead… he is alive)."

What motivated me to go on making this painting was his 45 minutes Parliamentary speech on Monday (Nov 8, 2010) which he concluded with "Jai Hind". I was indeed emotionally moved.

Further Obama is concerned with the values that Gandhiji espoused. His visit to Mani Bhavan during his 3 day tour to India was indeed touching and I decided to paint him as one who was truly representing Gandhi himself.

My message I wish to convey through my painting is that Gandhiji though no more is still alive in our consciousness. Even the president of mighty US where people are generally materialistic has to acknowledge the relevance of Gandhi in today’s troubled world.

OBAMAHATMA- Depicting Gandhi, the Obama way...

I have depicted US President Barack Obama as clad in Gandhian attire and even wielding a stick like the Mahatma, while Bapu himself is visible in the background. The painting is titled, "OBAMAHATMA?", and bears a slogan that reads, "Mahatma maraa nahi hai… zinda hai (The Mahatma is not dead… he is alive)."

What motivated me to go on making this painting was his 45 minutes Parliamentary speech on Monday (Nov 8, 2010) which he concluded with "Jai Hind". I was indeed emotionally moved.

Further Obama is concerned with the values that Gandhiji espoused. His visit to Mani Bhavan during his 3 day visit to India was indeed touching and I decided to paint him as one who was truly representing Gandhi himself.

My message I wish to convey through my painting is that Gandhiji though no more is still alive in our consciousness. Even the president of mighty US where people are generally materialistic has to acknowledge the relevance of Gandhi in today’s troubled world.

Meeting Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

June 15, 2010
New Delhi

I was in Delhi for 16 days in June under the Internship of Dr. Kiran Bedi, for her NGO Navjyoti India Foundation. As my internship was drawing to a close I decided to meet our beloved former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at his residence, 10 Rajaji Marg in New Delhi.

I had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Kalam many times who has been instrumental in encouraging me to be a good student and a good citizen. “You cannot be a good student without being a good citizen,” Dr. Kalam once told me.

This was my first ever meeting with the former president at his residence in New Delhi. I reminded him of our interaction at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA)in the year 2008, wherein he autographed a portrait for me & posed for the media lens men by holding my hand in order to show them the portrait. I am glad that he still remembered that incident.

Explaining all about Dr. Kiran Bedi's NGO, I told him that Navjyoti India Foundation is all about self reliance & empowering people for self-help. This NGO came into being in the year 1988 as the brain child of Dr. Kiran Bedi. The organization was setup with the idea of promoting welfare policing, the outcome of which was the drug de-addiction program.

I explained Dr. Kalam about my Internship with Dr. Kiran Bedi since after which I widened my views & found new possibilities for my future. He was happy that I had taken up the challenge of teaching the kids out there situated in the slums. As I went to see these children I felt they were not fortunate enough to be like me. Either they belonged to a municipality school or were illiterate living in by-lanes totally neglected and uncared for. My experience with the kids was both profound and humbling.

I gifted Dr. Kalam a bunch of Portraits which I made of his. He happily autographed some for me. I even made Dr. Kalam speak with none other than Dr. Kiran Bedi. Speaking to Dr. Bedi over the phone he agreed of having role models can certainly be a powerful force in learning and achieving one’s objectives. They’re not only important in the progress of one’s career, but also for achieving fulfillment in everything you do. You ought to have role models in every stage of your life.

When my meeting was drawing to a close, I chose to ask a question to Dr. Kalam. I asked him “You always have exhorted youths to join Politics despite knowing its draw backs. Today politics has bureaucracy, corruption & filth as its core elements. What is the reason for you to want youths join politics”?Answering in just one sentence, the great visionary stated “You Go & Change the Politics!”

I understood what he meant to say. He wanted the young bloods to chance the Political system by removing bureaucracy, corruption & all other anti-social elements. He wanted a renaissance in Politics since we youths can attain the possibility if have a great grit & firm determination.

Our conversation continued lasting in Tamil, which is the mother-tongue of both of us. Thus blessing me for a bright future ahead, he told me that "Sharing makes you great. So always share whatever you have. You will grow prosperous then by all different means."

Dalai Lama's Autograph

His Holiness the Dalai Lama signed a portrait of self made by me which I had sent him a few months ago.