In a world where secrets and lies abound, here’s someone who's both brave and determined to uncover the truth – Rajani Pandit, India's first lady detective. She's spent years in her quest, even altering her looks sometimes to get the job done. What’s more, she is immune to bribery and believes in honesty above all things.
Rajani's journey started nearly four decades ago in 1986, when she began her own detective agency. It wasn't easy at first and she had to work really hard to get where she is today.
One of her first cases was a murder mystery. In a plot worthy of an Agatha Christie whodunnit, she pretended to be a hired house help to solve it. She says ‘We are all bound to die some day and the word ‘fear’ is not in my dictionary. I leave everything to destiny. I just need to work and deliver results. I opted for this career primarily because of my courage.’
Back then, technology was different. She had to use tape recorders to capture conversations, and it was tricky to make sure they didn't stop at the wrong moment..
Rajani has handled all kinds of cases for a diverse set of clients. What she aspires for most is client satisfaction, when they express that they’re happy with her work. She has received many awards, but what matters to her above all are the blessings of the people she helps. ‘I never thought that because I am a woman, this career was off limits to me. Naysayers kept saying that this was a man’s job, and a woman could not do it, but I managed to successfully prove them wrong.’, she adds.
She didn't even know what a detective was when she started out, but soon learned the ropes along the way, solving small cases and getting noticed by a reporter who wrote about her. She even appeared on TV, which made her famous overnight.
Rajani says being a detective isn't something you can learn from books. You need to be smart, brave, and quick to make decisions. And you have to keep secrets, too.
Her message to everyone is simple: believe in yourself and never give up. That's how she became India's first lady detective, and she hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams as well.