FREDA BEDI AND KASHMIR

THE GRAND WOMAN FREDA BEDI ((1911–1977) AND KASHMIR

She was Freda Houlston  from Derbyshire UK before She married BPL Bedi at OXFORD in 1934. Both returned to India and plunged into nationalistic politics .Both were later active in kashmir against Maharaja's rule . This family was very close to Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah . They  sided with National Conference openly. Freda is reported to have worn a Burqa  and carried messages for Kashmiri leaders who were imprisoned by Maharaja. At the insistence of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, BPL Bedi ( a communist ) played a key role in drafting Naya Kashmir Document. Freda also taught English in Kashmir .

 Freda later joined Indian National Congress and served a six-month prison term for participating in a SATYAGRAHA organised by Gandhi Ji . Her husband BPL Bedi or Baba Bedi  is credited with being the main force behind the 'New Kashmir' manifesto" of 1944.

The "Naya Kashmir Draft Manifesto " was prepared in 1944 at  B P L Bedi’s Model Town residence in Lahore. Those who assisted Bedi Included his wife Freda Bedi, Danial Lateefi ( Grandson of Badar Ud Din Tyabji and a senior advocate of Supreme Court Of India ), Hafeez Jalandhari ( Urdu poet who wrote the national anthem of Pakistan ), M D Taseer (Ex Principal S P College Srinagar who moved to Pakistan later ) and Pandit Jia Lal Kilam ( Later Justice Kilam ).

The radical Agrarian reforms ( Land to the Tiller ) implemented in J&K State post 1947 were included in the " Naya kashmir manifesto " drafted by BP L Bedi . 

Bedis were equally loved in Kashmir and Lahore. Both of them took distinct spiritual paths in later years of their lives.Freda  turned to Buddhism  (Sister Palmo, or Gelongma Karma Kechog Palmo ) while in BABA"s case it was Sikhism .

                                                                       

                                                           ( Freda and B P L Bedi )

                                                  ( Freda and BPL Bedi  In Sikkim  )
                                                                       

                                                (   Freda and BPL Bedi 1933 )
                                                                     

Freda  Bedi converted to Buddhism and lived mostly  in Sikkim’s Rumtek  monastery thereafter  ..  In India , She also did enormous social  work for  refugees from  Tibet  In 1959 when Dalai Lama took refuge in India along with thousands of Tibetans, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru requested her to head the task force for support and settlement of these Hapless people. Shall i  tell you more ? Just hold on  !

Bollywood actor Kabir Bedi is their younger child..   Born in 1946, Kabir Bedi had his initial schooling in Kashmir only whereafter he moved to Sherwood College, Nainital.

So Long so much.

( Avtar Mota )                                                     

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