Bedi said it was important to inculcate practical, hands-on education among the youth and one way to achieve it was to introduce “national service” in their curriculum. “Serving the community, its downtrodden, the less privileged should be a practical project in their program. We need to create a system where service is rendered to the society by the students in gratitude for the subsidies they get in their education fees,” she said.

Bedi said such things could be read in a book, but are not done. “Such activities would inculcate sensitivity in the students about their community and promote integrity. Teachers wield a great influence on students’ thought and behaviour,” Bedi said, citing an example from her days at the Khalsa College, Amritsar where her students wanted to wear their hair short following her example. However, teachers needed to “bond” with students, an aspect that was missing in the present education system.

Bedi said when she taught the students of Khalsa College in Amritsar, she bonded with her students by playing with them. “Teachers sing, dance but do not play with their student. If they started playing they would create an evolution; they should play with their students and lose as well,” she said.

The former director of Tihar jail said that her stint there was nothing but an extension of her role as a teacher. “I was more of an headmaster,” she said.