Beyond her sister’s script

‘‘It is ironic that my mother Leela Chaudhary who really inspired and made us do what we felt strongly about is not here to see this day,’’ Chaudhary said. A family dispute concerning her father had inspired Chaudhary to pursue a career in the Indian Police Service. She still recalls the day when her family was not allowed to lodge an FIR at a police station in Amritsar.

It was not surprising that on her first day in office she directed all her colleagues to act tough but lend a sympathetic ear to the woes of the common man. ‘‘I know that people have a lot of expectations from me as a woman and my first priority would be to have a clean, transparent and accessible administration,’’ she told The Indian Express.

A staunch believer in women’s empowerment, Chaudhary said she was lucky to be in charge of a state with a strong women’s population. ‘‘I am happy that women in Uttaranchal are more aware about their rights and duties.’’

She said the appointment orders came when she was practising in a gymnasium with her daughter last evening. ‘‘It was a big surprise and a bigger challenge,’’ she said.

Chaudhary, who started her career in Lucknow, has many firsts to her credit. She was the first woman DIG in charge of Bareilly range. She was instrumental in setting up all-women police stations in UP. As chairperson of the All India Women Police, she has championed the cause of recruitment and training of women in the police force. She has also served long periods in the CBI and CISF.