Kiran Bedi makes simple choices with great results 

Kiran Bedi at The Claridges. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Anuj Kumar

‘I am not fit for this column. I hardly have any striking choices when it comes to food,” says Kiran Bedi, as she rests on a plush cushion at The Claridges after giving a series of interviews for the second season of Kiran Ki Kachehri on Star Plus.

We had made the choice for her but after having a look at the vegetable cheese sandwiches, she declares, “After having them I will have to walk at least for two hours!” Instead she opts for fresh sweet lime juice. “A policeman’s job is such that he is hardly able to appreciate the beauty of life. For him beauty lies in his duty!” She laments that our system doesn’t take care of a policeman’s diet. “That’s why we find a number of out of shape policemen. The poor fellows eat whenever they have time and whatever is available.”

Talking about her routine, Kiran says she is not at all demanding. “For me milk and fruits are enough for breakfast and eggs and toast constitute my lunch. It is only at dinner that I treat myself to dal roti.”

Kiran says she resisted food during shooting as well. “I used to take my own stuff during the shoot. Even when I go abroad, I rely on salads, as I am a vegetarian who doesn’t mind having eggs.”

Never to be the seen in the kitchen, Kiran says her mother never asked them (Kiran and her sister) to cook. “She would be happy if I complete my homework in time and then play tennis.” Has her daughter taken on her? “Not at all. I will be the last person to ask somebody to cook for me but she is a natural cook. I believe she has taken from her grandmother who was a tremendous cook.” Kiran says it is because of her strict routine that she never faced any problems with her blood pressure. “It is commonly found in police personnel. That was one of the reasons that I started vipasna camps for policemen. It showed good results but unfortunately the scheme was withdrawn.”

However, Kiran concedes the second season of Kiran Ki Kachehri has tested her patience. “You will find me a lot angrier this time.” She says the root of the problem is that the common man doesn’t understand basic law. “The system is at fault as well. No attempt is made to make them understand law in layman’s terms.” She agrees it has become like the scriptures which only a priest can explain. Here the priest’s place is taken by the advocate. “Many times people come with the belief that what they are asking for is their right. It is only when I explain the law that they agree for compromise.”

Kiran says her methodology is to understand what conditions led to the impasse. “It might appear that one person is at fault but if you dig a little deeper you will find there is chain of circumstances – where both the parties are at fault at some point – which has led to the present standoff. I try to figure out that chain.” The concept looked unwieldy but Kiran has been able to traverse quite smoothly. “It is a team work. There is a strong legal team that goes into the detail of the case. The final shooting does not last more than an hour. It is very much cut to cut. I don’t even meet the parties before the shoot.”

How does she make out who is at fault in such a short time? “Well, from years of experience, I can get an idea from the eye movement of a person. Even a person’s breathing pattern and swallowing gives it away.” Happy with the response, Kiran feels “with her or without her” the concept should be replicated in different cities. “Most of the cases related to custody and marital discord, which we successfully addressed in the first season, could have been waiting in a court for the next date. I have included my experiences in the second edition of my book ‘I Dare’.” Kiran feels the ministry of personnel’s recent directive, which has made it mandatory to have at least one woman on every selection committee set up to recruit more than 10 persons for Union government positions, was long due. “Now female candidates won’t be asked stupid questions like what will you do when you get married or how will you cope when you decide to start a family.”

Every lady loves to splurge, but for Kiran exercise is her indulgence. “I can walk for hours. I love listening to an audio book on a tread mill. These days I am reading Barack Obama’s books.” Does she have a sweet tooth? “Well, I love to have coco milk at night. That’s my sweet dish.”