In Indian literature, who is the author of the book titled "Freedom Behind Bars"?

Introduction / Context:

Questions on books and authors are common in general knowledge and competitive exams because they test awareness of important works and personalities. The book "Freedom Behind Bars" deals with experiences and reforms within the prison system in India. To answer this question correctly, learners must connect the title with the correct author, who is a well known Indian police officer and social activist rather than a political leader from the freedom struggle.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title of the book is "Freedom Behind Bars".
• The options include Kiran Bedi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nelson Mandela, Sheikh Abdullah, and Mahatma Gandhi.
• We assume that the learner recognises some of these names as political leaders and one as a pioneering police officer in India.
• We also assume that the book relates to prison reforms and experiences in Indian jails.

Concept / Approach:

Kiran Bedi is a retired Indian Police Service officer who became famous for her work on prison reforms, especially during her tenure as Inspector General of Prisons in Tihar Jail, Delhi. She wrote the book "Freedom Behind Bars" based on her experiences, focusing on improving conditions in prisons and introducing educational and reformative programmes for inmates. Jawaharlal Nehru, Nelson Mandela, Sheikh Abdullah, and Mahatma Gandhi wrote other important books and autobiographical works, but they are not the authors of this particular title. Therefore, the correct answer is Kiran Bedi.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Read the book title "Freedom Behind Bars" and associate it with themes of prisons and reform. Step 2: Identify which option is most closely linked with prison administration and reforms in modern India. Step 3: Recall that Kiran Bedi served as a senior police officer and became known for reforming Tihar Jail. Step 4: Recognise that Nehru, Mandela, Gandhi, and Sheikh Abdullah are mainly associated with political struggles and different famous works. Step 5: Select Kiran Bedi as the author of "Freedom Behind Bars".

Verification / Alternative check:

Catalogues of Indian authors and official biographies of Kiran Bedi list "Freedom Behind Bars" among her published books, describing it as a work dealing with prison reforms. In contrast, Jawaharlal Nehru is associated with works like "Discovery of India", Nelson Mandela with "Long Walk to Freedom", Mahatma Gandhi with "My Experiments with Truth", and Sheikh Abdullah with writings on Kashmir politics. None of these references list "Freedom Behind Bars" under their names, confirming that the book is authored by Kiran Bedi.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option B, Jawaharlal Nehru, is known for political and historical writings, especially "Discovery of India" and letters to his daughter, but not for this book on prisons. Option C, Nelson Mandela, wrote the famous autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom" about his fight against apartheid, not "Freedom Behind Bars". Option D, Sheikh Abdullah, was a political leader from Jammu and Kashmir and is not known for this title. Option E, Mahatma Gandhi, wrote "My Experiments with Truth" among other works but is not the author of "Freedom Behind Bars".

Common Pitfalls:

Some learners may see the word freedom in the title and immediately associate it with famous political leaders like Nehru, Mandela, or Gandhi, without recalling the specific context of prison reform in India. Others may not be familiar with Kiran Bedi as an author and may overlook her contribution. To avoid such mistakes, students should remember key pairings of modern Indian reformers and their works, such as Kiran Bedi and "Freedom Behind Bars".

Final Answer:

The book "Freedom Behind Bars" was written by Kiran Bedi.