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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = '''Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya'''
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = c. 1947
| birth_place = [[Shimla]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], India
| death_date = 26 August 2019
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| nationality = [[Indian citizen|Indian]]
| occupation = [[Indian Police Service|IPS Officer]] (1973–2007)
| alma_mater = [[Delhi University]]
| awards =
| spouse = Dev Bhattacharya
| children = 2
}}
'''Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya''' (c. 1947 - 26 August 2019) was the second woman officer in [[Indian Police Service|Indian Police Service (IPS)]] in India, the first being [[Kiran Bedi]].<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/officer-who-changed-the-face-of-the-police/article3685110.ece|title=Officer who changed the face of the police|last=Santhosh|first=K|date=26 July 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> A 1973 batch IPS officer, she was the first woman to become [[Director General of Police]] of a state and retired on 31 October 2007 after 33 years of service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/chaudhary-first-woman-dgp-retires/234554/|title=Chaudhary, first woman DGP, retires|last=Kazmi|first=S M A|date=31 October 2007|work=Indian Express Archive|access-date=31 August 2019|publisher=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/smart-salute-to-lady-top-cop/cid/737833|title=Smart salute to lady top cop|last=Singh|first=Gajinder|date=17 June 2006|website=Telegraph India|language=en|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> She then turned to politics and ran as a candidate of [[Aam Aadmi Party]] from [[Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Haridwar]], [[Uttarakhand]] in the [[2014 Indian general election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Indias-first-woman-DGP-wants-AAP-ticket-from-Haridwar/articleshow/31864349.cms|title=India's first woman DGP wants AAP ticket from Haridwar|last=Singh|first=Kautilya|date=12 March 2014|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Chaudhary was born in [[Himachal Pradesh|Himachal]] and lived in [[Amritsar]] and [[Delhi]]. She was the first child of Madan Mohan Chaudhary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.womenplanet.in/first-woman/director-general-of-police-of-india|title=First Woman Director General of Police (DGP) of India|date=2013-12-23|work=WomenPlanet.in|access-date=2017-10-28|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028145227/http://www.womenplanet.in/first-woman/director-general-of-police-of-india|archive-date=28 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chaudhary attended the Government College for Women, [[Amritsar]].<ref>{{ cite news|title=A trip down memory lane |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071013/aplus1.htm|newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]]|date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> Later, Kanchan completed her [[Master of Arts]] (MA) in [[English literature|English Literature]] from [[Indraprastha College]], [[Delhi University]], followed by a [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) degree from the [[University of Wollongong]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]] in 1993.<ref>{{ cite news|title=DU has a lot on its ladies special platter|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/DU+has+a+lot+on+its+ladies+special+platter/1/44882.html|newspaper=[[India Today]]|date=3 June 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.streeshakti.com/Kanchan-Chaudhry.aspx|title=About Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya|publisher=streeshakti.com}}</ref>

In an interview in 2014, Kanchan explains that she was inspired to become a police officer after her father was caught up in a property matter and was attacked; at that time police officers were not ready to register a case against the attackers. So when she cleared the [[Civil Services Examination (India)|Civil Services exams]], it was clear to her that she would join the Indian Police Services as a path to serving justice.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/193153/ips-officer-kanchan-chaudhary-bhattacharya-first-woman-dgp-india/|title=Tribute: Kanchan Chaudhary, the Trailblazing IPS Officer Who was India's 1st Woman DGP|last=Wangchuk|first=Rinchen Norbu|date=27 August 2019|website=[[The Better India]]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lifebeyondnumbers.com/kanchan-chaudhary-life-set-limits/|title=Kanchan Chaudhary: Life Sets No Limits, Only You Do!|last=Laungani|first=Jahnavi K.|date=12 September 2014|website=Life Beyond Numbers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720221907/http://lifebeyondnumbers.com/kanchan-chaudhary-life-set-limits/|archive-date=20 July 2016|access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref>

==Career==
Chaudhary's career in the Indian Police Services spanned 33 years.<ref name=":1" /> She was the second woman (after [[Kiran Bedi]]) to become an [[Indian Police Services|IPS]] officer.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://theprint.in/economy/brandma/udaan-dd-series-on-life-of-dgp-kanchan-chaudhary-inspired-an-entire-generation-of-women/283973/|title=Udaan — DD series on life of DGP Kanchan Chaudhary inspired an entire generation of women|last=Jha|first=Fiza|date=1 September 2019|work=The Print|access-date=2 September 2019}}</ref> In her batch she was the only female trainee.<ref name=":4" /> She was the first woman to be an IPS officer in [[Uttar Pradesh Legislature (Vidhan Bhawan)|Uttar Pradesh]] and was the first woman appointed Deputy General Inspector of Police in [[Bareilly]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. She was then promoted to be the first woman [[Inspector general|Inspector General]] of the [[Uttar Pradesh Police]]. She was the first woman to serve as the [[Additional director general of police|Additional Director General of Police]] in [[Uttarakhand|Uttaranchal]] and then was the first woman promoted to be the Director General of Police in the state.<ref name=":2" />

Cases that Chaudhary handled in her career included the murder of seven-time national badminton champion [[Syed Modi]] in 1987 and the [[Reliance Industries|Reliance]]-[[Bombay Dyeing]] case in 1989. During her time as [[Police ranks and insignia of India|Assistant Superintendent of Police]], [[Malihabad]], Uttar Pradesh, she tracked down 13 [[dacoit]]s in a single year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20050404-30-indian-women-who-are-front-liners-of-our-times-788086-2005-04-04|title=From corporate warriors to politicians, 30 Indian women who are front-liners of our times|date=4 April 2005|website=India Today|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref> She also investigated several [[White-collar crime|white collar]] crimes in banks and public sectors.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040626/windows/main1.htm|title=Let me fly, don't root me|date=26 June 2004|website=The Tribune - Magazine section - Saturday Extra|access-date=2017-10-28}}</ref>

Chaudhary was selected to represent India at the 2004 Interpol meeting in [[Cancún]], [[Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/first-lady-dgp-no-more-757248.html|title=First lady DGP no more|date=2019-08-27|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> She hosted the 2nd Women in Police Conference on 27 July 2005 in [[Mussoorie]], where the President of India, [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|APJ Abdul Kalam]], was the chief guest.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TSmZY__8QX8C&q=Director+Generals+of+Police+annual+conference+kanchan&pg=PR12|title=Struggle for Gender Justice: Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lectures|last=Bhandare|first=Murlidhar C.|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|others=[[APJ Abdul Kalam]]|isbn=9780670084265|pages=xii|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20051017-women-in-police-force-finally-make-themselves-heard-demand-professional-makeover-786829-2005-10-17|title=Women in police force finally make themselves heard, demand professional makeover|last=Menon|first=Amarnath K.|date=17 October 2005|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref> Chaudhary presented on the issues relating to the recruitment, training and continuing of women in police in India at the DGP's Annual Conference and to the Training Heads from across the country on behalf of the [[Bureau of Police Research and Development]].<ref name=":0" />

Chaudhary's other interests included writing poetry and participating in dramatics. She also made a guest appearance on the TV series [[Udaan (1989 TV series)|''Udaan'']], which was inspired by her life story. The series was written and directed by her sister [[Kavita Chaudhary]].<ref name=Hindu/><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/elections-2014/meet-first-woman-dgp-turned-aap-s-haridwar-hopeful-114032400135_1.html|title=Meet first woman DGP turned AAP's Haridwar hopeful|last=Inamdar|first=Nikhil|date=2014-03-25|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>

==Death==
On 26 August 2019, Bhattacharya died at a hospital in [[Mumbai]] where she had been receiving care during the previous five to six months. Her body was cremated at the Worli crematorium in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news |title=India's first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya dies|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-first-woman-dgp-kanchan-chaudhary-bhattacharya-dies/articleshow/70858881.cms |access-date=2 September 2019 |publisher=Times of India |date=27 August 2019}}</ref> She was survived by her husband and two daughters. Uttarakhand Police Director General Law and Order [[Ashok Kumar (police officer)|Ashok Kumar]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-first-woman-dgp-kanchan-chaudhary-bhattacharya-dies/story-ARApHt8i0NP9lqNWPF9pbJ.html|title=India's first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya dies at 72|date=2019-08-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-01-13}}</ref> paid tribute to Bhattacharya stating, "She was a simple and sweet-natured person who gave us a free hand while we worked under her when she was the DGP." An official tribute event was held at the department's headquarters on August 27th.<ref>{{cite web |title=India's first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya dies at 72 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-first-woman-dgp-kanchan-chaudhary-bhattacharya-dies/story-ARApHt8i0NP9lqNWPF9pbJ.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=27 August 2019 |language=en |date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

==Awards==
*[[President's Police Medal|President's Medal]] for Long and Meritorious Services in 1989.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theprotector.in/rise-of-women-in-policing/|title=Rise of Women in Policing|date=10 November 2018|website=The Protector|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
* President's Medal for Distinguished Services in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-was-kanchan-chaudhary-bhattacharya-fearless-ips-officer-who-went-on-to-become-countrys-first-woman-dgp/1687571/|title=Who was Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya? Fearless IPS officer who went on to become country's first woman DGP|date=2019-08-27|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
* Rajiv Gandhi Award for Excellent All Round Performance and as an Outstanding Woman Achiever, 2004.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-first-woman-dgp-kanchan-chaudhary-bhattacharya-dies/story-ARApHt8i0NP9lqNWPF9pbJ.html|title=India's first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya dies at 72|date=2019-08-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhattacharya, Kanchan Chaudhary}}
[[Category:1940s births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Indraprastha College for Women alumni]]
[[Category:Indian police officers]]
[[Category:Indian police chiefs]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian women police officers]]
[[Category:Women in Himachal Pradesh politics]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]

Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya - Revision history

->Lancepark at 20:26, 2 November 2021