Manjari
Jaruhar
Track Timing
-
Leaving the past behind (08:31) |
Raising an independent girl child (24:03) |
The art of investigation (35:58) |
Dealing with grey (51:49) |
Staying positive (59:29) |
Managing dual careers (01:07:03) |
Taking charge in a new role (01:16:29) |
Driving human transformation (01:25:50) |
Finding your style as a woman (01:36:34) |
Former IPS Officer
Manjari Jauhar is Bihar’s first IPS officer and one of the first five IPS officer in India (Kiran Bedi being the first).
After an unexpected turn of events upended the homemaker role her parents had planned for her, Manjari Jaruhar overcame extraordinary odds to become the first woman from Bihar to join the country’s elite police cadre. Her journey is a masterclass in courage, resilience and leadership by a woman who broke new ground and thrived despite being viewed with disbelief and derision by her colleagues. She has recently authored the book - Madam Sir, which captures her journey against several odds. It is a stirring account of a sheltered girl’s rise to the top echelons of the Indian Police Service. Set against the backdrop of significant events such as the Bhagalpur blindings, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Lalu Prasad’s reign in Bihar, “Madam Sir” is an inside look into the IPS through a woman’s eyes.
In our conversation we spoke about her childhood, her challenges in her first marriage and how she picked herself up and “took charge” of her personal and professional life. We also speak about the many glass ceilings that she had to break as one of the first few Police Officers in the country.
Published in Nov 2022.
Nuggets from the
Conversation
Leaving the past behind
Manjari speaks about the challenges she experiences in her first marriage and how she had the courage to walk out of the relationship and rebuild her life and her career. She recounts the role of her parents and some of her friends in this phase of life.
Raising an independent girl child
Manjari speaks about what it takes to raise an independent girl child. We specifically touch upon the notion of ensuring that the girl makes choices that make her financially independent which in turn gives her agency.
The art of investigation
Manjari speaks about the art of investigation and interrogation. She first speaks about how the approach of investigation is often very different depending on the context of the crime. She goes on to speak about the role of empathy while conducting an investigation.
Dealing with grey
Manjari speaks about some of the situations at work where she had to balance the multiple egos and agendas and find an approach that is tactful. She also goes on to talk about her black and white approach to situations and how she cuts through the clutter.
Staying positive
Manjari speaks about how she manages to stay positive despite the nature of her profession that brings her in touch with a lot of human suffering. She also speaks about how she has managed to compartmentalize the various elements of her life.
Managing dual careers
Manjari speaks about how she and her husband (also a batchmate from National Police Academy) juggled their careers and personal lives given the pulls and pressures at various points in time.
Taking charge in a new role
Manjari speaks about some of her insights around how she would settle into a new role. She specifically speaks about how her approach changes depending on the context in that situation.
Driving human transformation
In my experience of having worked with leaders, I have realized that outcomes often depend on the mindset of the coachee than the skill-set of the coach.
Finding your style as a woman
Manjari speaks about how she embraced her femininity as a Police Officer rather than trying to develop a cold exterior to fit into a world filled with men in the IPS.
