The Lives of Freda Bedi

Andrew Whitehead joins the Bookclub to talk about the little-known story of Freda Bedi.

Andrew Whitehead

Andrew is a historian, lecturer and freelance journalist with 35 years with the BBC as a correspondent, presenter and editor of BBC World Service News. He is honorary professor at the University of Nottingham & also a visiting professor at the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, South India. Andrew's first book 'The Lives of Freda Bedi’ includes new material based on extensive access to the Bedi family archives. He is currently working on his second book 'Curious London' which will be published later this year.

Andrew Whitehead joins the Bookclub to talk about the little-known story of Freda Bedi. Bedi was an English woman who made her life in India after marrying a Punjabi-Sikh student in Oxford in 1993. After marriage, Bedi regarded herself as Indian and lived in Lahore where she championed India’s national cause during the Second World War. She later became an active Kashmiri nationalist, a Tibetan Buddhist and towards the end of her life a Buddhist nun, but India would remain her home to the end.

Buy ‘The Lives of Freda: The Political, Spiritual and Personal Journeys of Freda Bedi’ here >>

Pav Singh

Author, Pav Singh joins bookclub to present the definitive account based on harrowing victim testimonies and official accounts reveals how the largest mass crime against humanity in India's modern history was perpetrated by politicians and covered up with the help of the police, judiciary and media.

Anam Zakaria

Using the oral narratives of four generations of people - mainly Pakistanis but also some Indians - attempts to understand how the perception of Partition and the 'other' has evolved over the years.

Dr Shashi Tharoor

Former UN under-Secretary General and politician, Dr Shashi Tharoor discusses his international bestseller ‘The Inglorious Empire: What the British did to India. Shashi is In conversation with BBC journalist and broadcaster Kavita Puri,

Dr Radha Kapuria

How both music and dance played a vital role in state craft and deeply influenced the Indo-European diplomatic relationship even though it is often overlooked by historians. From performances of the legendary corps of ‘Amazons’ acting as “gifts” to European visitors, to striking a coin in Moran’s name, music and dance played an intrinsic role in the Court.

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