Freda Bedi
Life at Oxford
Life at Oxford
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At Oxford, Freda Houlston changed her subject from French to [Philosophy, Politics and Economics](/wiki/Philosophy%2C_Politics_and_Economics "Philosophy, Politics and Economics") (PPE). She met her husband Baba Pyare Lal "BPL" Bedi, an Indian from Lahore, on her PPE course. He was a [Sikh](/wiki/Sikh "Sikh") whose family traced back to [Guru Nanak Dev Ji](/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Dev_Ji "Guru Nanak Dev Ji"). Romance blossomed and they married at Oxford Registry Office in June 1933, in spite of the reservations of her family and disciplinary action by her college.

Whilst at Oxford Freda became involved in politics. She attended meetings of the Oxford Majlis, where nationalist\-minded Indian students gathered, as well as of the communist [October Club](/wiki/October_Club_%28Oxford_University%29 "October Club (Oxford University)") and the [Labour Club](/wiki/Oxford_University_Labour_Club "Oxford University Labour Club"). This was another bond with BPL Bedi, who became a keen communist and opponent of Empire.Andrew Whitehead, *The lives of Freda*, pp. 19\-41, The couple together edited four books on India's struggle for Independence. At St Hugh's her closest friends included [Barbara Castle](/wiki/Barbara_Castle "Barbara Castle"), later a prominent Labour cabinet minister, and the broadcaster [Olive Shapley](/wiki/Olive_Shapley "Olive Shapley"). All three women graduated with a third\-class degree; Freda's husband got a fourth\-class degree.


What role do you think Freda's family played in shaping her political views?