In her autobiography I Dare she writes, “I am a product of getting the best out of the worst
--thanks to my well wishers. There have been several incidents that challenged me, but ultimately helped me realise my determination & endurance:

At the outset I believe it is important to know that ‘mind’ only thinks but someone else “intellect” decides (if allowed to). The most recent challenge in my life was my decision
to leave the police service, at the height of my career, two years earlier than I was due to retire. It was triggered off by several events: the manner in which the police reforms were being sabotaged by the then home ministry officials. Meetings were called to comment on Police Reforms judgement of Supreme Court, & senior police officers asked regarding possibility of implementation of reforms. Response was in unison, “We must appeal against this judicial intrusion into executive domain”. Every time I talked in favour of reforms I was asked to be a team player or leave.

Once while I was listening to the hearing in the Supreme Court, a Senior Home ministry official asked me, “was there no work in your office today”, forgetting that he was speaking to a DGP. I had to tell this man that Police reform was also my beat & the honourable court is not influenced by my presence.

The feudal & the opaque way of functioning was suffocating me. I started to think that I was a thorn in the flesh. The authorities then decided to fix me by denying me natural shift to Police Commissionership of Delhi Police, for which I was ideally suited, having been groomed in it. I was fiercely independent of the ongoing machinations, & self-reliant. I was not a part of the wining & dining club. I was an outcaste & a challenge for them. I had just returned implementing the Prison reforms successfully. Hence they were apprehensive, & had commented “It was a mistake to send Kiran to Tihar Prisons”. I was fast asleep when in the late night news appointment of another person as Delhi Police Commissioner. When I was informed, I said, ‘I have been set free’.

And I was. Instead of being in the dumps I decide to move on. As the IPS door closed another opened—Star Plus TV offer—to be the judge on “Aap ki kachahari”, a brave new format for a reality show. Nature has its own way of working for you, while you think the Universe is falling apart.

Thus the key to coming out of tough times stronger is staying alert, staying focused on duty, courageously & trusting in God. For that alone is in man’s hands.