34August 2022 www.bahrainthismonth.com India in Bahrain A Life Well Lived A true inspiration to all, Dr. Jija Madhavan Harisingh has had a prolific career which spans decades and industries. Her experience includes working in both, the public and private sectors. She has lived a colourful life and on a recent visit to Bahrain shared some of her invaluable insights with George Middleton. Most notably, 36 years ago, she became the first woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in Karnataka, and since, her extensive and varied career ensued earning her several titles including artist, writer, and Director General of Police. Dr. Jija, what was it like being the first woman in the Indian Police Service during the mid-80s and what has changed since then? The majority of the challenges that I faced then are not being met by my colleagues now as subordinates have accepted women as IPS officers. When I first joined, people did not know how to address or even salute me – an issue that does not exist now. In addition, we didn’t have facilities for women, even for washing, but this has changed. You have pursued a post-graduate degree in journalism. Have you followed this passion for writing outside of police work and would you consider authoring a book? The journalism diploma was an evening programme which naturally provided me with the opportunity to write. My creative writing includes writing short stories, and I believe I have two or three books within me too. That being said, I have started writing a life story, but I wouldn’t want it to end up being a book that is too thick, too involved or one that gives away too many details, or is just some boring autobiography! I’ve also started writing a children’s book aside from a book detailing my encounters with people for which I have written ten or 12 chapters. Let me get that out first and write about my more colourful police journey. My favourite authors are Maya Angelou and the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. I am currently reading his book ‘Europa’ which received the Booker Prize from India. I also enjoy books about astrology and spirituality. You completed your Ph.D. or thesis on women’s empowerment, doing a socioeconomic study of women recruited into the police force in Karnataka. What was the most exciting finding in your research? What was interesting in the study that I’d like to explore further is that women feel empowered in that they have been able to capture the agency, within the family, society, and the workplace, at all levels. Generally, they feel empowered and have been able to establish themselves in having a voice in economic affairs and areas which involves decisions making such as where to send their children to school, if they should go on holiday and where, how they should celebrate festivals, and what they should buy. In all those things, women have established themselves and their power of agency. Does law enforcement need to get more involved with protecting women in India, or do you think that laws are in place now? Law enforcement must be stricter; the police must be sensitive to victims. Sometimes you
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