India’s First Woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya Is No More

India’s first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya was an inspirational personality. At her peak, she wasn’t merely restricted to serving the country from the first line of defense.

India’s first woman DGP also left an impression in the often tumultuous world of Indian politics. Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya even contested in the Lok Sabha elections back in 2014, on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket.

She fought from Haridwar constituency but failed to make it to the lower house of the country’s parliament.

A history-maker and record-breaker, India’s first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya scored national headlines way back in 2004 when she was appointed the DGP of the state of Uttarakhand. She served her post for three straight years and then finally retired as the DGP on October 31, 2007.

Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya was an old guard, a 1973 batch IPS officer.

Ever appreciative of her conduct and services to the country, the Uttarakhand Police posted a tribute to the experienced personality of the Indian Police force and shared the following:

“Uttarakhand Police expresses condolences on her demise and remembers her phenomenal contribution.”

In addition, Mr. Ashok Kumar, current Director General of Uttarakhand Police, someone who knew her closely, offered a tribute and shared:

“She was a simple and sweet-natured person who gave us a free hand while we worked under her when she was the DGP.” 

A resident of Haridwar, India’s first woman DGP, was born in Himachal Pradesh, was a student of the Government College for Women, in Amritsar. A widely traveled individual, the late Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya also obtained a post-grad in English Literature from the revered Delhi University and later, went on to complete her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

She spent over three decades serving the country from the venerable police force and enjoyed a 33-year long career. During her esteemed career, she was also promoted as the first woman Inspector General of Uttar Pradesh Police.

Someone who was respected and widely regarded for her integrity and empathy for the plight of the common man, India’s first woman DGP shall always be remembered with a smile and verve of respect.

That said, some of the eminent highlights from her distinguished career are as follows:

1) Back in 2004, the year where she rose to become the Director General of Uttarakhand Police, Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya was selected to represent India at an Interpol meeting held at Cancun, Mexico.

2) She was the chairperson of the All India Women in Police, an important post wherein she hosted the ‘2nd women in Police Conference.’

3) She also happened to win several awards in a long career, some of which include- President’s medal for long and meritorious services in 1989, President’s medal for distinguished services in 1997, Rajiv Gandhi Award in 2004 for excellent all-round performance and as an outstanding woman achiever.

Widely regarded as a brave woman officer who “changed the face of the police,” she was respected about as widely as the great Kiran Bedi, who happens to be among the biggest national icons the country has ever produced in the post-Independence period.