The talk on ‘Leadership’ by former IPS officer Kiran Bedi at Sri Krishna Institutions here on Monday turned out to be one that was based on her work at Tihar jail. She took the students on a journey of the transformation of the jail into an ashram and this she attributed it to her leadership skills.
She vividly described how the Tihar jail was – corrupt, dirty, lack of infrastructure and sanitary facilities – when she took charge of it on becoming the Inspector General (Prisons) and asked students whether they would be interested in taking charge of such an institution.
Referring to excerpts from her book “It’s Always Possible: One Woman’s Transformation of Tihar Jail”, she pointed out that if one decided to take up the challenge, without choosing to seek a transfer, then he or she should not quit or back out of that decision. Once the decision was made, then a true leader was one who communicated to the staff at the institution, delegated work and stayed back to participate in the work to achieve the mission statement.
Ms. Bedi explained how with no monetary or other resources, she was able to garner books and teachers to educate the prisoners as the first step to reform.
Lamenting that in the present context the gap between the leader and the common man was very wide, she said, every opportunity must be used to reduce this gap.
Honest
The leader should cut the ranks and go to the people, she added. Pointing out that a true leader should possess the qualities of having vision, communication skills, taking risks, being honest, and the constant willingness to learn from others.
Ms. Bedi launched the logo of the Entrepreneurship Development Cell of Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology.
S. Malarvizhi, Chairperson of Sri Krishna Institutions, presided over the event.
