While playing tennis, Kiran Bedi felt her long braids became more and more of a nuisance, as they kept dangling in front of her face and disturbing her game. Once, when she couldn’t stand this any longer, she got her parent’s permission and ran to the men’s saloon across the road and got her hair cut. This is how she got her boy-cut, which later became a trend among girls. She was glad that at an early age, she learnt how to prioritize simple things in life.

Dr Kiran Bedi was the first woman officer to join the Indian Police Service in 1972. She pioneered humanitarian policing by transforming prisons and boldly reducing corruption. She received the prestigious Magsaysay Award in 1994. She has also founded two NGOs in India: Navjyoti for welfare and preventive policing in 1987 and the India Vision Foundation for prison reformation, drug abuse prevention and child welfare in 1994.

Adapted for BookBox by Ananya Parthibhan.