Its Always Possible: Transforming One of the Largest Prisons in the World

by Kiran Bedi

? Motivation, persistence and perseverance are the distinct traits of determined, dedicated individuals who can make things happen. It's always possible, even when the task is awesome to transform the mindsets of human beings. Located in the capital city of India, New Delhi, Tihar is one of the largest prisons in the world. Within a prison complex of over 200 acres are housed over 11,000 inmates-men, women, adolescents, children; Indians and foreigners. They comprise unconvicted alleged offenders, convicts and remandees. It was a limping and languishing institution, condemned by the media, isolated from the community, exploited, used and abused, yet 'housed'. Dr Kiran Bedi (then 44) was appointed the Inspector General of Tihar prison on May 1, 1993. She brought about fundamental changes, giving a human face to the administrative structure-creating an exemplary system covering every possible aspect of prison management. The whole objective was to initiate and strengthen collectively and individually the transition from a wooden system to a responsive and sensitive administration. Hence this effort unfolds the process of this reformation involving prison administration, prisoners and the community-towards one common goal-correction through a collective and community-based approach. Contents: Foreword ? Acknowledgement ? Preface ? I - What Existed : My First Day in the Prison ? Tihar Jail: Ground Realities ? Medical Disservice ? Life-term Jailors ? The Inescapable Grip of Corruption ? Intervention or Interference ? Security or Insecurity ? Media Spotlight: Out of Focus ? Out of Bounds ? Women Prisoners: An Endangered Species ? Foreign Prisoners: Aliens behind Bars ? Adolescent Prisoners: A Class Apart ? High Security Prisoners: Gangsters Galore ? II - What Evolved : On the Rounds ? Championing a Cause: The Petition Box ? Creating Security: Internal Management ? Enters the Community ? The Education Process: An Eternal Journey ? The De

Genres: Nonfiction

428 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Kiran Bedi is a retired Indian Police Service officer, social activist, former tennis player and politician who is the current Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. She is the first female Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and started her service in 1975. She remained in service for 35 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2007 as Director General of Police, Bureau of Police Research and Development.

She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2015. She unsuccessfully contested the 2015 Delhi Assembly election as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate. On 22 May 2016, Bedi was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

As a teenager, Bedi became the national junior tennis champion in 1966. Between 1965 and 1978, she won several titles at national and state-level championships. After joining IPS, Bedi served in Delhi, Goa, Chandigarh and Mizoram. She started her career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Chanakyapuri area of Delhi, and won the President's Police Medal in 1979. Next, she moved to West Delhi, where she brought a reduction in crimes against women. Subsequently, as a traffic police officer, she oversaw traffic arrangements for the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi and the 1983 CHOGM meet in Goa. As DCP of North Delhi, she launched a campaign against drug abuse, which evolved into the Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation (renamed to Navjyoti India Foundation in 2007).

Reviews

[Apurva Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

2500 गुन्हेगारांसाठी असलेल्या पण प्रत्यक्षात 7000 पेक्षा जास्त गुन्हेगारांना ठेवलेल्या तिहार जेलचा तिहार आश्रमापर्यंतचा प्रवास सांगणारं हे पुस्तक. तब्बल 9 महिन्यांच्या प्रतीक्षेनंतर 1993 मधे किरण बेदी यांची तिहार जेल येथे आय. जी.( प्रिझन्स) पदावर बदली झाली (हेतू एकच, त्यांना हतबल करून टाकणे). पण नेहमीच प्रवाहाविरुद्ध विचार करणाऱ्या किरण बेदी यांनी ती challenge म्हणून स्वीकारली आणि पहिल्याच दिवसापासून झपाट्याने काम सुरु केलं, जिचं मोठ्या चळवळीत रूपांतर झालं आणि त्यासाठी त्या रॅमन मॅगसेसे, नोबेल प्राईझ ऑफ एशिया अशा मोठ्या पुरस्कारांच्या मानकरी ठरल्या. या एकूणच पूर्ण अनुभवाचा शिक्षणक्षेत्रात उपयोग होईल या विचाराने त्यांनी संशोधन सुरु केलं, प्रगत देशांमधील तुरुंगांना भेटी दिल्या (तिथला आणि भारतातला फरक नमूद करताना त्यांची भारतावर असलेली प्रचंड देशभक्ती दिसून येते). हे पुस्तक त्यांचा अभ्यास आणि संशोधन याचाच एक भाग.

पुस्तकाची विभागणी चार भागात केलेली आहे - 1) जे अस्तित्वात होतं (जे प्रचंड भयानक होतं, वाचताना विश्वास ठेवायला कठीण जातं. भ्रष्टाचार, तिथले कर्मचारी, डॉक्टर, खुनी, अट्टल गुन्हेगार, स्त्री गुन्हेगार आणि त्यांची मुलं, परदेशी गुन्हेगार - सगळ्यांच्या निरनिराळ्या समस्या.)
2) उत्क्रांतीची सुरवात (जेलमध्ये सुरु केलेले नवीन उपक्रम, शैक्षणिक उपक्रम, जेलबाहेरील सामान्य जनतेची मदत, स्वयंसेवी संस्थानी घेतलेला पुढाकार, प्रसारमाध्यमे, विपश्यनेचे प्रयोग आणि विरोधक इत्यादी. पुस्तकाचा मुख्य भाग हाच आहे. माणुसकीद्वारे झालेलं अट्टल गुन्हेगारांचं सामान्य माणसातलं परिवर्तन वाचताना आपण थक्क होतो. किरण बेदींचं असामान्य व्यक्तिमत्व येथेही जाणवतं!
3)पुनर्जन्म कसा झाला (थोडक्यात सारांश) आणि
4) नवनिर्माण अजूनही चालूच आहे. (या सगळ्याचा परिणाम भारतीय तुरुंगविषयक कायदा बदलण्यात झाला)

या काळात जेलमध्ये राबवलेले विविध उपक्रम, त्यासाठी उच्च पदावरील लोकांकडून मिळालेली appreciations, वर्तमानपत्रात झालेल्या नोंदी, कैद्यांचे अनुभव हे सगळं या पुस्तकात वाचायला मिळतं. ठिकठिकाणी त्यांचे पुरावेसुद्धा जोडलेले आहेत तर काही गोष्टी चित्रांद्वारे दाखवल्या आहेत. काही गोष्टी परत परत वाचायला मिळतात, research paper असल्यामुळे असेल कदाचित (त्यामुळे अधेमधे थोडं कंटाळवाणं होतं). ज्यांचा गुन्हेगारी, मानसोपचार किंवा अशासारखे अभ्यासाचे विषय असतील, उत्सुकता असेल किंवा किरण बेदी यांच्या कार्याबद्दल उत्सुकता असेल त्यांनी हे पुस्तक नक्कीच वाचावे असे.

शेवटी एक मात्र खरं; पुस्तकाच्या सुरवातीला किरण बेदी यांनी सांगितल्याप्रमाणे, पुस्तक वाचून झाल्यावर माझ्यासारखाच तुमचाही या वचनावर नक्कीच विश्वास बसेल - 'it's always possible'!

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational. A good example to remember that kindness can go a long way.

[Aditi Agarwal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its a collection of incidents from Kiran Bedi's life and her views about what happened/what should have happened. Very interesting, no doubt. The author comes across as a very strong and independent minded woman (which she is) who knows what she is talking about. It proves time and again that she completely deserves the recognition and honor she commands now. However, after a few chapters in the book, you start feeling like you are reading a modern version of "Aesop's Fables"... Never the less, a good book to ensure that those free 10 mins in between activities are utilized well.

[Navenaa]

Indian first woman being dare