usha mehta biography in english

Usha Mehta Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Usha Mehta

• Usha Mehta was a Gandhian and an Indian freedom fighter. She is remembered for setting up an underground radio during the Quit India Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. This radio was named as ‘Secret Congress Radio’ that functioned for transmitting the secret information of India’s great leaders to the general public and Indian prisoners in British rule. In 1998, she was honoured with the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ second-highest civilian award of India by the Government of India.

I had the satisfaction of breaking the law and doing something for the nation even as a young child.” A Childhood Picture of Usha Mehta

Policemen, you can wield your sticks and your batons, but you cannot bring down our flag.” Young Usha Mehta

• Initially, Usha Mehta’s father was not in favour of her participation in freedom fighting campaigns and protests. In 1930, when her father retired as a judge, Usha’s family moved from Gujarat to Bombay to participate in India’s struggle for freedom. The restrictions to participate in protests were uplifted by her father soon after their shift. Usha started participating in Quit India Movement in 1932.
• In the beginning, when Usha participated in the movement in 1932, she started selling small packets of salt as a part of Gandhi’s “Salt March” movement. The Salt March was organised by Mahatma Gandhi to monopolize and regulate Indian salt companies in India. She also began distributing secret information, bulletins and publications to the Indian prisoners and their relatives.

Gowalia Tank Maidan, Mumbai during the Quit India Movement headed by Mahatma Gandhi

• In 1942, Usha Mehta decided to continue her further studies in Law; but, she quit her studies to participate in the Quit India Movement headed by Mahatma Gandhi.

This is the Congress radio calling on [a wavelength of] 42.34 meters from somewhere in India.” [8] New York Times jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_342394_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_342394_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); The equipment set up of the Secret Congress Radio of Usha Mehta

• The companions of Usha Mehta for launching and providing the radio equipment were Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar, and Nanka Motwani. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutrao Patwardhan, and Purushottam Trikamdas were the leaders who helped Usha Mehta in establishing the Secret Congress Radio in 1942.
• On this secret congress radio, the important announcements of Mahatma Gandhi and other renowned leaders were aired to the general public. The location of the radio was changed daily by the organisers of the radio in order to avoid arrest.
• Initially, the secret radio was broadcasting the information twice a day in the beginning. The languages used were Hindi and English. Soon, they started broadcasting only once in the evening between 7.30 and 8.30 pm.
• This secret radio broadcasted the secret information only thrice. The first broadcast was related to a Japanese air raid on the British army at Chittagong that is now in Bangladesh. The second broadcast was between February and March 1943 where she telecasted Jamshedpur Strike. This information was provided on this radio when the labourers were on thirteen days strike at Tata Iron and Steel Company. The labourers were on strike to favour the Quit India Movement as this mill was the largest steel mill of the British empire. In January 1944, the third secret information was broadcasted for a week. It was related to the Ashti and Chimur riots where the police openly fired the people and several Congress leaders were arrested by them.
• Usha Mehta was responsible to leak the secret information of the British government to the Indian agitators. In a conversation with a media house, Usha called it a “finest moment” for being a part of the secret radio.

When the newspapers dared not touch upon these subjects under the prevailing conditions, it was only the Congress Radio which could defy the orders and tell the people what actually was happening.”

• An Indian technician disclosed the information about the secret radio to the authorities. Usha Mehta and her companions were arrested by the police on 12 November 1942. Later, she was imprisoned for six months and was interrogated by the Indian police and CID. She was given separate confinement and was given study abroad proposals by the Britishers to betray the Quit India Movement.
• During her imprisonment and court sessions, she chose to keep quiet and not to reply to any questions in the courtroom. After the court sessions, she was sentenced to four years imprisonment at Yeravda Jail in Pune. During the same time, she remained unwell for some time and was also admitted to Sir J. J. Hospital, Bombay, now Mumbai. Gradually, her health improved after hospitalisation, and at the hospital, the guards were kept to keep an eye on her. She was again sent to Yeravda Jail in Pune.
• In March 1946, she was released from jail on the orders of Morarji Desai, the then home minister in the interim government. Usha was the first political prisoner who was released from Bombay jail.

A story in ‘Blitz’ on 20 April 1946 about the secret radio station

They seized the equipment and 22 cases containing photos and sound films of the Congress party sessions.”

• In 1946, when she was released from jail, her health was not fit enough to participate in any social and political work, even she did not attend the official function of India’s independence in 1947.

Usha Mehta in 1996 while addressing a conference

Our expectations have not been fulfilled. By and large our dreams haven’t come true. Barring in one or two directions, I do not think we have marched the way Gandhiji wanted us to. The India of his dreams was where there was minimum unemployment–where people were supplied with some craft to earn a living wage. There would be no difference on the basis of community, caste or religion.

• After India got independence in 1947, Usha Mehta started writing books and articles in English and Gujarati languages based on her experiences of social-political movements. The names of the few books that she wrote were – the 1977-80 Experiment in 1981, Women and Men Voters, Gandhi’s Contribution to the Emancipation of Women in 1991, Vishv Ki Kaljayi Mahilaye, Antar Nirantar, Mahatma Gandhi and Humanism in 2000, Dances of South India etc.
• Usha Mehta was honoured to head the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi. The internal affairs of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan were also monitored by Usha Mehta. She was associated with various independence day celebrations’ events on India’s 50th anniversary of freedom by the government of India.

Certainly this is not the freedom we fought for. Once people were ensconced in positions of power, the rot would set in. We didn’t know the rot would sink in so soon. “India has survived as a democracy and even built a good industrial base. Still, it is not the India of our dreams.”

• In 1998, she was honoured by the government of India with the second-highest civilian award titled Padma Vibhushan.

I do not know you personally, but I admire your courage and enthusiasm and your desire to contribute your might to the sacrificial fire that has been lit by Mahatma Gandhi.”

Did our great leaders sacrifice their lives for this kind of India? It is a pity the new generation of political activists and leaders are paying scant respect to the Gandhian ideas, the chief among which was non-violence. If we don’t mend our ways, we may find ourselves back at square one.”

Usha Mehta as a Chief Guest at an event

As long as some unifying forces work and work very hard, I see the country being completely divided and ruined. A national spirit has to be injected. If moral values are going to deteriorate and we go on like this then there will be complete anarchy and destruction. In the international field it is said in the event of a third war there will be no victor and no vanquished, the whole world will be destroyed. Similarly I feel if we don’t wake up now then India as a nation will certainly be ruined.”

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Overlooked No More: Usha Mehta, Freedom Fighter Against British Rule in India

At 22, she helped establish the underground station Congress Radio, which amplified Mahatma Gandhi’s message of rebellion.

By Geneva Abdul

Overlooked is a series of obituaries about remarkable people whose deaths, beginning in 1851, went unreported in The Times.

When Mahatma Gandhi gave his famous “ Do or Die ” speech on Aug. 8, 1942, galvanizing Indians to demand the end of British rule, Usha Mehta heeded the call.

With the help of other activists, Mehta, who was 22 at the time, secured a ghost transmitter and started an underground radio station to amplify Gandhi’s message.

“When the press is gagged and all news banned, a transmitter certainly helps a good deal in furnishing the public with the facts of the happenings and in spreading the message of rebellion,” Mehta recalled in a 1969 interview .

Gandhi had called for the start of a mass civil disobedience movement, the Quit India campaign, but he was quickly arrested by the British , as were the Congress leaders who were supporting him.

On Aug. 14, Mehta and her colleagues, broadcasting from a secret location, went live.

“This is Congress Radio calling on 42.34 meters from somewhere in India,” she said from behind the microphone, referring to their wavelength.

Mehta and others relayed news, patriotic speeches and appeals directed at the people she called “workers in the struggle” — students, lawyers and police officers. She passed along information from the All India Congress Committee and delivered messages from across the country.

The broadcasts were originally once a day but quickly transitioned to twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening, in both English and Hindustani.

Mehta, who at the time was a political science student at Wilson College in Bombay (now Mumbai), said she had read about how radio stations aided movements in the past. The broadcasts, she realized, could reach beyond India to gain the attention of other countries.

“Our perusal of the history of the past campaigns had convinced us that a transmitter of our own was perhaps one of the most important requirements for the success of the movement,” she said in 1969 .

Mehta and her collaborators broke the news of a Japanese air raid on a British armory at Chittagong, a port city that is now part of Bangladesh.

They also reported on the Jamshedpur Strike , as labor workers from the Tata Iron and Steel Company, the largest integrated steel mill in the British Empire, went on strike for 13 days in support of the Quit India movement and demanded that a national government be formed.

And they told the nation about the deadly riots in Ashti and Chimur, as the police opened fire on people protesting the arrests of Congress leaders. As the military was sent in to thwart the uprising, accounts of atrocities against the villagers surfaced.

“When the newspapers dared not touch upon these subjects under the prevailing conditions, it was only the Congress Radio which could defy the orders and tell the people what actually was happening,” Mehta said.

Mehta and her colleagues were regularly chased by a police van, forcing them to shift from place to place to hide their location. To avoid further risk, they had a recording station separate from the broadcast station and for a period aired messages across two transmitters .

“So far we were conducting movements, but now we are conducting a revolution,” Ram Manohar Lohia, a founder of the Congress Socialist Party, said in one broadcast, adding, “Our hatred is for an administration which seeks to perpetuate human injustice.”

After the official All India Radio — which other activists referred to as “Anti-India Radio” — jammed their broadcasts, Mehta and her crew persistently tried to retaliate. But their luck fell short on Nov. 12, 1942, when they were caught after a technician betrayed them by revealing their location.

“When finally the government traced them down, the police were knocking on the door where they were running this underground radio,” her nephew Ketan Mehta, a prominent Bollywood filmmaker, said in a video call from Mumbai. “And she asked all the others to leave, but she continued to broadcast until they broke down the door.”

More than 50 officers stormed through the three bolted doors. Mehta and another activist were arrested; two others were caught in the following days. After a prolonged investigation, time in solitary confinement and a five-week trial, Mehta was jailed until March 1946.

“I came back from jail a happy and, to an extent, a proud person, because I had the satisfaction of carrying out Bapu’s message, ‘Do or die,’” she said, using a term of respect for Gandhi that means “father,” “and of having contributed my humble might to the cause of freedom.”

Usha Mehta was born on March 25, 1920, in Saras, a village in the western state of Gujarat, to Gheliben Mehta, a homemaker, and Hariprasad Mehta, a district-level judge under the British Raj. Throughout her upbringing, members of Usha’s family were involved in India’s independence struggle.

After her father retired in 1930, the family relocated to Bombay. To her father’s displeasure, Mehta later joined the movement, distributing bulletins and selling salt in small packets as part of Gandhi’s “salt march” to protest a colonial law allowing the government to regulate and monopolize salt.

Mehta never married or had children.

When India finally achieved independence in 1947, the British drew a dividing line that became the border between India and Pakistan, sending the region into chaos that resulted in mass bloodshed as more than 10 million Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs sought to find their place in what would become history’s largest migration.

Mehta was torn . “In a way I was very happy, but sad at the same time because of partition,” she was quoted as saying in the book “Freedom Fighters Remember” (1997). “It was an independent India but a divided India.”

Later in life Mehta wrote the script for a documentary on Gandhi that was produced by one of her colleagues at the radio station. She earned a Ph.D. in Gandhian thought at the University of Bombay, where she taught political science and ran the politics department. She also taught at Wilson College for 30 years. She was president of the Gandhi Peace Foundation and in 1998 received one of India’s highest civilian honors, the Padma Vibhushan.

She lived a simple, even frugal life. She rode the bus instead of driving a car and dressed in khadis, a handwoven garment that became a symbol of defiance in Gandhi’s time. She often subsisted on only tea and bread. She woke at 4 a.m. each day and worked late into the evening.

She died on Aug. 11, 2000. She was 80.

One morning shortly after Congress Radio’s first broadcast in 1942, Mehta’s uncle brought her a note from Ram Manohar Lohia, the Congress Socialist Party founder.

“I do not know you personally,” the note read, “but I admire your courage and enthusiasm and your desire to contribute your might to the sacrificial fire that has been lit by Mahatma Gandhi.”

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The story of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio

The movement was launched on august 8, 1942, with mahatma gandhi’s famous speech in bombay’s gowalia tank maidan: “do or die..

Amazon Prime released Ae Watan Mere Watan on Thursday (March 21). The historical biography tells the story of Usha Mehta, played by Sara Ali Khan, and Congress Radio — an underground radio station in 1942, during the Quit India Movement.

The movement was launched on August 8, 1942, with Mahatma Gandhi’s famous speech in Bombay’s Gowalia Tank maidan: “Do or die. We shall either free India or die trying”. The movement saw mass civil disobedience, massive public protests, sabotage and even setting up of parallel governments in certain regions.

The beleaguered British, already stretched due to World War II, arrested tens of thousands. All of Congress’ brass, including Gandhi, Nehru, and Vallabhai Patel, were behind bars by August 9 itself. The party was banned. It is in the context of this brutal repression that younger leaders stepped up to take the lead.

Power of radio

Mehta was 22 when the Quit India Movement began. A law student in Bombay, she was in awe of Gandhi, and like many peers, quit studies to join the movement.

“We were drawn to the (Quit India) movement,” Mehta later told Usha Thakkar (Congress Radio: Usha Mehta and the Underground Radio Station of 1942, 2021).

Rather than lead public protests, Mehta wanted to contribute in other ways. “Based on my study of the history of revolutions in other countries, I suggested… a radio station of our own,” Mehta told Thakkar. “When the press is gagged and news banned, a transmitter helps… in acquainting the public with the events that occur.”

But, setting up a radio station was, thus, going to be difficult. Alongside Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri and Chandrakant Jhaveri were key figures in organising Congress Radio.

Their first task was to procure funds for the enterprise. But the biggest challenge proved to be sourcing technical expertise — and equipment. At the War’s advent in 1939, the British had suspended all amateur radio licences across the Empire. Operators were to turn in all equipment to authorities, with severe punishment for those who failed to do so. Moreover, with radio transmission still in its infancy, only a handful in India could operate the equipment. Fewer still were Indians.

Nariman Printer, who held an amateur transmitting licence prior to the War, provided a solution. He had managed to hold on to various parts of his transmitter despite the ban. However, he held no ideological affinity to the national movement, and had agreed to help for purely financial reasons.

Nonetheless, Printer did put together a working transmitter by the end of August on the top floor of Chowpatty’s Sea View Apartment. On September 3, at 8.45 pm, Mehta went live for the very first time, announcing: “This is the Congress Radio calling on [a wavelength of] 42.34 metres, from somewhere in India.”

From its very first broadcast, Congress Radio was a hit. It became the most favoured news source for Indians, denied information on the national movement and the War by colonial censors.

As Mehta told Usha Thakkar: “We were the first to give the news of the Chittagong bomb raid, of the Jamshedpur strike and of the happenings in Ballia. We broadcast the full description of the atrocities in Ashti and Chimur. Newspapers dared not touch these subjects under the prevailing conditions; only the Congress Radio could defy the orders and tell the people what was really happening.”

The underground station also broadcast political speeches, addressing groups such as students, workers, and peasants. Broadcasts were both in English and Hindustani. “… The Congress Radio’s broadcasts captured the mood of the times — the exhilaration and enthusiasm generated by a country caught up in the fervour of the Quit India movement,” Thakkar wrote. In doing so, it kept firm people’s resolve for independence.

In its November 9 morning broadcast, it proclaimed: “Remember, Congress Radio runs not for entertainment, not even for propaganda, but for giving certain directives to the Indian people in their fight for freedom”.

A glorious end

The Congress Radio team went to great lengths to avoid detection, changing transmission locations every few days. But authorities knew about its existence from early September itself, and put in significant resources to apprehend those behind it. The operation was finally busted after Printer’s capture, who, in return for immunity, disclosed the location of what would be Congress Radio’s final broadcast on November 12, 1942.

Mehta recalled the “memorable day”: “When I was putting on the ‘Vande Mataram’ record, I heard hard knocks on the door… I saw a big battalion of policemen headed by the deputy commissioner of police entering the room with triumphant smiles… the police chief said… [to] stop the record… mustering all the courage at my command, [I] firmly replied, ‘The record will not stop. This is our national song. So, all of you stand at attention’.”

The trial of the five accused — Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Nanak Gainchand Motwane (who sold equipment parts to the team) — generated much excitement. Vithalbhai and Motwane were acquitted, but Mehta, Babubhai, and Motwane received stern sentences.

When Mehta was released from Pune ’s Yerawada Jail in March 1946, she was hailed in the nationalist media as “Radio-ben”. While her poor health kept her out of active politics in independent India, she remained a staunch Gandhian. Conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 1998, Mehta died after a brief illness in 2000.

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Usha Mehta, the 22-year-old who ran an underground radio station to aid India's fight for independence

Usha mehta, the inspiration behind sara ali khan's 'ae watan mere watan' began as a 22-year-old freedom fighter in college. she was one of india's original radio journalists who ran the underground congress radio that aided in the nation's fight for independence..

Listen to Story

“This is the Congress Radio calling from 42.34 metres from somewhere in India,” the voice of the 22-year-old Usha Mehta called India to alert on August 14, 1942.

THE STUDENT ACTIVIST WITH A POWERFUL VOICE

Born on February 24, 1920, so inspired was Mehta by her father's involvement in the Indian National Congress, that she was drawn into politics since her childhood, having even found herself in the police lockup with other little children of the Vanar Sena.

She was ranked one of the top 25 students in her matriculation or Class 10 exam in 1935. Mehta was fluent in four languages – English, Gujarati, Hindi and Marathi – and made her mark in debate and elocution at Wilson College.

Usha Mehta (1920-2000): Broadcasting Freedom in British India

This topic of “Usha Mehta (1920-2000): Broadcasting Freedom in British India” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination , which falls under General Studies Portion.

I. Introduction

Usha Mehta, a prominent figure in India’s fight for independence, dedicated her life to the cause of freedom. Known for her contributions to the Quit India Movement, she served as a beacon of resistance against British rule, using clandestine radio broadcasts to disseminate news and stoke nationalistic fervor. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom, proving her to be a significant figure in the annals of Indian history. Her life and achievements underscore the pivotal role she played in shaping the course of India’s struggle for independence.

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II. Early Life and Inspiration

A. Birth on February 24, 1920, and her father’s involvement in Indian National Congress

• Born in the village of Saras, situated near Surat in the state of Gujarat.
• Father was a judge under the British Raj, but was involved in the Indian National Congress .
• Father’s involvement in politics served as a source of inspiration for Usha from a young age.

B. Initial involvement in politics and childhood experiences with the Vanar Sena

• Participated in the fight against British rule from a young age.
• At the age of eight, she took part in her first protest against the Simon Commission .
• During the Salt Satyagraha , she would bring seawater to her home and produce salt out of it.
• Found herself in the police lockup with other little children of the Vanar Sena .
• After her father’s retirement in 1930, she was allowed to participate more fully in freedom struggle activities.

C. Academic prowess – fluent in four languages, top student, and debate excellence at Wilson College

• Ranked one of the top 25 students in her matriculation or Class 10 exam in 1935.
• Fluent in four languages – English, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi .
• Demonstrated prowess in debate and elocution at Wilson College.
• Graduated with first-class honours in Philosophy from Wilson College, Bombay.
• Began preparing to study for law, but halted her studies to join the freedom struggle with the announcement of the Quit India Movement.

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III. Quit India Movement and Contribution

A. Decision to halt law studies to join the Quit India movement

• Usha Mehta decided to halt her law studies to join the Quit India Movement in 1942.
• The announcement of the Quit India Movement was a pivotal moment that led her to dedicate her full energies towards the freedom struggle.

B. Involvement with the Indian National Congress and work with other freedom fighters

• Usha Mehta was a key part of the All India Congress Committee session in 1942.
• Heard powerful speeches by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi , Jawaharlal Nehru , Maulana Azad , and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel .
• These speeches served as a source of inspiration for her to establish the secret Congress Radio.

C. Role in initiating the underground Congress Radio

• Launched the first announcement of “Congress Radio” on 14th August 1942.
• Would deliver the news bulletin in both English and Hindi, beginning with the song “Hindustan Hamara” and ending with “Vande Mataram”.
• The purpose of the radio was to spread nationalistic fervor and inform the world about the events taking place in India.
• Despite strict surveillance by British authorities, Usha Mehta’s station continued to report on the atrocities committed by the British.
• The station had to frequently change its position to remain anonymous and hidden from the British radar.
• The team changed around 7-8 stations during the Quit India Movement.
• The Congress Radio played a crucial role in spreading awareness and rallying support for the Quit India Movement.
• It was a powerful tool for disseminating news and the perspectives of the freedom fighters.
• Despite eventual capture and imprisonment, Usha Mehta’s work with Congress Radio had a lasting impact on the Quit India movement.

IV. The Challenges and Imprisonment

A. Description of Mehta’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment

• On 12th November 1942 , as they were hosting a show from Girgaon, the police arrested Usha Mehta along with her associates.
• She was tried in a special court for five weeks and sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment.

B. Conditions of imprisonment and her resilience in the face of adversity

• During the imprisonment, Usha Mehta was kept in solitary confinement .
• She was enticed by the government with offers to study abroad in exchange for information about her fellow freedom fighters.
• Despite these pressures, she remained adamant and did not disclose any information, showcasing her strong character and dedication to the cause.

C. Release from prison and feelings upon release

• Usha Mehta was released in 1946 , becoming the first political prisoner to be released in Bombay.
• Upon her release, she said, “I came back from the jail happy and proud because I had the satisfaction of carrying Bapu’s message, ‘Do or Die’ and having contributed my humble might to the cause of freedom.” This statement underlines her unwavering commitment to India’s struggle for independence.

V. Transition to Education and Social Development

A. Decision to leave politics and shift focus to education

• After the independence of India, Usha Mehta decided to leave politics and dedicated her life to education and social development . This shift in focus came from her belief in the importance of education for nation-building.

B. Journey in the Bombay University’s Department of Civics and Politics

• Usha Mehta returned to the University of Bombay as a faculty member in the Department of Civics and Politics .
• Her academic focus was on Gandhian philosophy, which she shared with her students.
• She attained a PhD in Gandhian thought from the University of Bombay.

C. Involvement with University Grants Commission (UGC), Administrative Reforms Committee of Gujarat, and the Shrimati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University

• She served as a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) , contributing to policy-making in higher education.
• Usha Mehta was a member of the Administrative Reforms Committee of Gujarat , which aimed to bring about effective changes in the administrative system.
• She also served on the Senate and the Board of Studies of Shrimati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University , contributing her expertise and knowledge for the betterment of women’s education.

D. Work at Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya and Bombay Gandhi Smarak Nidhi

• She was associated with the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya , a museum and historical building dedicated to Gandhi in Mumbai.
• Usha Mehta worked with the Bombay Gandhi Smarak Nidhi , an institution dedicated to preserving the memory and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

E. Founding of the Bhavan’s Cultural Centre in Mumbai

• Usha Mehta was instrumental in the founding of the Bhavan’s Cultural Centre in Mumbai, a hub for the cultural and intellectual growth of the city’s residents. It became a platform for promoting traditional Indian culture and values.

VI. Recognition and Retirement

A. Awards received, including the Padma Vibhushan and Jamnalal Bajaj Award

• Usha Mehta was honored with several awards recognizing her significant contributions to India’s freedom struggle and post-independence development.
• In 1998 , she was bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan , the second-highest civilian award in India, by the government of India.
• She was also the recipient of the Jamnalal Bajaj Award . This award is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to Gandhian values.

B. The Passing of Usha Mehta

• Usha Mehta continued to be an active advocate for education and social development throughout her life.
• She passed away on August 11, 2000 , leaving behind a legacy of steadfast patriotism, commitment to education, and unwavering belief in Gandhian values.

VII. Conclusion

Dr. Usha Mehta’s story is a testament to the power of unwavering dedication to a cause and the resilience of the human spirit. Her early involvement in India’s freedom struggle, her vital contribution to the Quit India Movement through the Congress Radio, and her enduring courage in the face of imprisonment highlight her exceptional commitment to her country. Equally remarkable is her transition from politics to education and social development, where she left a significant impact in various capacities. Despite the challenges she faced, her belief in Gandhian values and her commitment to social justice remained steadfast. The recognition she received, including the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, underscores the lasting influence of her work. Usha Mehta’s life and work serve as an enduring beacon of inspiration, reminding us of the power of conviction, courage, and commitment to societal betterment.

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Usha Mehta Wiki, Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More

Wiki/Biography

Usha Mehta was born on Thursday, 25 March 1920 ( age 80 Years; at the time of death ) in Saras village near Surat in Gujarat, India. Her zodiac sign was Aries. Usha Mehta received her initial school education at Kheda and Bharuch in Gujarat and then in Chandaramji High School, Bombay, now Mumbai. In 1939, she earned a bachelors degree in philosophy at Wilson College, Bombay. [1] The Better India Afterwards, Usha Mehta earned a political science degree at Wilson College, Bombay. Later, she obtained a PhD in Gandhian thought at the University of Bombay, now Mumbai University. [2] New York Times

Physical Appearance

Hair Colour: Grey

Eye Colour: Black

Parents & Siblings

Her father’s name was Hariprasad Mehta. He was a district-level judge under the British Raj. Her mother’s name was Gheliben Mehta. She was a homemaker. She had an elder brother.

Other Relatives

Usha Mehta has three nephews. Her first nephew’s name is Ketan Mehta who is a renowned Bollywood filmmaker.

Ketan Mehta

Her second nephew is Dr Yatin Mehta who is an anaesthetist. He also worked as the Director of Escorts Hospital and is associated with Medicity in Gurgaon.

Dr Yatin Mehta

Her third nephew is Dr Nirad Mehta who was an Indian Army officer and is working at P.D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai.

Dr Nirad Mehta

Husband & Children

Usha Mehta never married or had children. [3] New York Times

Freedom Fighter

At the age of five, Usha Mehta saw Mahatma Gandhi for the first time at his ashram in Ahmedabad. Soon afterwards, Gandhi visited her village for a campaign where little Usha participated in spinning charkha, and she also attended the speeches delivered by Mahatma Gandhi. At the age of eight, in 1928, Usha participated in several protests against Simon Commission and raised slogans of ‘British Raj: Simon Go Back.’ In an interview with a media house, Usha revealed her childhood memory,

I had the satisfaction of breaking the law and doing something for the nation even as a young child.” A Childhood Picture of Usha Mehta

Usha, along with other village girls, participated in morning protests against the British Raj while surrounding and picketing in front of various liquor shops. In one of the protests, a girl with an Indian flag in her hand was fell down by the policemen during the lathi charge. The children later complained to their parents and elders about the incident. In the next protest, all these children seen wearing the tri-colour (saffron, white and green) dresses and shouting to the British policemen,

Policemen, you can wield your sticks and your batons, but you cannot bring down our flag.”

Young Usha Mehta

Her father was not happy with Usha when she participated in several freedom fighter movements. However, the restrictions turned down when her father retired in 1930, and they moved to Bombay, now Mumbai. In 1932, Usha Mehta began participating in Quit India Movement by distributing secret bulletins and publications to the prisoners and meeting their relatives to carry secret information. On 8 August 1942, Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi announced the Quit India Movement and delivering of anti-British speeches at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, now Mumbai. All the major leaders including Mahatma Gandhi got arrested before the day and the gathered crowd was handled by the junior leaders for addressing them and hoisting the flag. Usha, along with other freedom fighters, began a Secret Congress Radio on 14 August 1942. On 27 August, this radio went on air. Her first words were broadcasted on the air on this Secret Congress radio were,

This is the Congress radio calling on [a wavelength of] 42.34 meters from somewhere in India.” [4] New York Times The equipment set up of the Secret Congress Radio of Usha Mehta

Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar, and Nanka Motwani were Usha’s associates who provided the radio equipment and technicians to launch it. The names of the other leaders who helped and assisted Usha in the launching of the Secret Congress Radio were Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutrao Patwardhan, and Purushottam Trikamdas. The messages of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable leaders were aired on this secret radio. The organisers of the Secret Congress Radio managed to avoid being caught by the Britishers by changing the radio’s location daily. On 12 November 1942, Usha Mehta, along with the organizers of the radio, were arrested by the police and later, imprisoned. [5] New York Times She was interrogated by the Indian Police and the CID for straight six months. She was kept in sole confinement and was given study abroad allurements by the police for betraying the movement. During all her court sessions, she remained quiet and did not answer any of the questions. She was sentenced to four years imprisonment and was kept in Yeravda Jail in Pune. During her imprisonment period, her health deteriorated, and she was admitted to Sir J. J. Hospital, Bombay, now Mumbai. Soon, her health improved and was again sent to Yeravda Jail. She was released in March 1946 on the orders of the then home minister in the interim government Morarji Desai. She was considered the first political prisoner to be released in Bombay. The Secret Congress Radio remained in use only for three months during the Quit India Movement. Being a part of the secret radio, Usha called it a “finest moment” in an interview with a media house. Later, it was revealed that an Indian technician leaked the information about the secret radio to the authorities.

Lecturer/Professor

After she was released from jail in 1946, she continued her further studies as a PhD scholar at Bombay University. Usha Mehta was associated with Bombay University, Mumbai University as a research student, an assistant professor, a lecturer and a professor for a long time. She also served as the head of the civics and politics department of Bombay University. In 1980, she received her superannuation from Bombay University.

Literary Works

Soon after the independence of India, Usha Mehta penned several articles and essays on her various social-political movements in English and Gujarati. She co-authored books like Mahatma Gandhi and Humanism (2000), Women and Men Voters, the 1977-80 Experiment (1981), Gandhi’s Contribution to the Emancipation of Women (1991), Vishv Ki Kaljayi Mahilaye, Antar Nirantar, Dances of South India etc.

Other Recognitions

Usha Mehta was chosen as the president of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. She also participated in the matters of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. On India’s 50th anniversary of freedom, the Government of India associated her with a number of celebrations. Later, with the passage of time, Usha remained unhappy with the ways in which the social, political and economical developments of modern India were taking place. In an interview with India Today media, she stated,

Certainly this is not the freedom we fought for. Once people were ensconced in positions of power, the rot would set in. We didn’t know the rot would sink in so soon. “India has survived as a democracy and even built a good industrial base. Still, it is not the India of our dreams.”

Awards, Honours, Achievements

• Usha Mehta is the recipient of Padma Vibhushan in 1998, the second-highest civilian award in India.

In August 2000, Usha Mehta participated in the celebrations of the Quit India Movement in August Kranti Maidan though she was suffering from fever. After two days, she died peacefully at the age of 80, on 11 August 2000. [6] New York Times

Facts/Trivia

• She earned the name Ushaben during the Quit India Movement. [7] The Better India

Indians protesting during the Quit India Movement

• After Usha was released in 1946, her failing health stopped her to participate in any political and social work. Even she was not able to attend the official function of India’s Independence in New Delhi. Later, she continued her studies and submitted a doctoral dissertation on the political and social thought of Gandhi. She received a PhD from Bombay University, now Mumbai University.
• Initially, Usha and her associates were broadcasting the secret radio twice a day, in Hindi and English languages; however, they broadcasted on it just once in the evening between 7.30 and 8.30 pm. It was broadcasted three times only. The first broadcast was on August 27, 1942. The second broadcast was between February and March 1943. The third time, it was broadcasted for a week during January 1944.
• The major news that was telecasted by Usha Mehta and her associates on the secret radio was: A Japanese air raid on the British army at Chittagong. This city is now a part of Bangladesh. The Jamshedpur Strike was also telecasted by them when the 13 days strike was held at Tata Iron and Steel Company by the labour workers to support the Quit India Movement demanding the formation of the Indian government. This steel mill was the largest steel mill of the British empire. Ashti and Chimur riots were also informed by the secret radio where the police openly fired on the people and arrested many Congress leaders.

When the newspapers dared not touch upon these subjects under the prevailing conditions, it was only the Congress Radio which could defy the orders and tell the people what actually was happening.”

They seized the equipment and 22 cases containing photos and sound films of the Congress party sessions.”

• When Usha joined the movement in 1932, initially, she sold salt in small packets as a part of Gandhi’s “salt march.” This was done to push the government to regulate and monopolize salt in India.
• Usha was an eminent advocate of Gandhian philosophy and thought. She was a follower of Gandhi who decided to remain celibate for life, not involving in luxurious things and wearing khadi clothes only.

I do not know you personally, but I admire your courage and enthusiasm and your desire to contribute your might to the sacrificial fire that has been lit by Mahatma Gandhi.”

• Usha Mehta lived a frugal and simple life. Instead of driving a car, she used to board a bus. Handwoven dresses and Khadis were worn by her throughout her life. She even managed to live on tea and bread. She used to wake at 4 am in morning and worked late evenings. [8] New York Times

Usha Mehta in 1996 while addressing a conference

• The iconic slogan of Mahatma Gandhi “Do or Die. We shall either free India or die in the attempt” that he spoke on 8 August 1942, prompted Usha Mehta to fight against the British rule in India. [9] BBC
• According to several media houses, a biopic on Usha Mehta is going to be made by Indian film director and producer Karan Johar . [10] WION

Did our great leaders sacrifice their lives for this kind of India? It is a pity the new generation of political activists and leaders are paying scant respect to the Gandhian ideas, the chief among which was non-violence. If we don’t mend our ways, we may find ourselves back at square one.”

Usha Mehta as a Chief Guest at an event

References [+] [−]

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Who was Usha Mehta, the woman whose life inspired Ae Watan Mere Watan?

The movie is set to start streaming on Amazon Prime Video March 21 onwards

"This is Congress Radio calling on 42.34 metres from somewhere in India", a 22-year-old girl's voice reverberated through the radio on August 14, 1942. Usha Mehta, a revolutionary figure in the Indian Independence struggle, developed a secretive radio station in India during British rule. It broadcasted patriotic speeches and news across the country. 

On August 8, 1942, when Gandhiji was delivering the famous "Do or Die" speech, Mehta and her colleagues developed the station and it helped intensify the feeling of unity among the public. In a 1969 interview she said, " When the press is gagged and all news banned, a transmitter certainly helps a good deal in furnishing the public with the facts of the happenings and in spreading the message of rebellion." On August 14, she and her colleagues went on a live broadcast of Gandhiji's announcement on the Quit India campaign and later, his arrest by the British. The location for the broadcast was confidential. 

The broadcasts were in both English and Indian languages daily in the morning and evening. During that period she was a political science student at Wilson College in Bombay (now Mumbai). The famous Jamshedpur working labourer's strike from the Tata Iron and Steel Company was also reported from the station. "When the newspapers dared not touch upon these subjects under the prevailing conditions, it was only the Congress Radio which could defy the orders and tell the people what actually was happening," Mehta said.

After a technician betrayed their confidential locality, Mehta and her colleagues were caught on November 12, 1942. More than 50 officers charged to the spot and arrested them and Mehta was jailed until 1946. "I came back from jail a happy and, to an extent, a proud person, because I had the satisfaction of carrying out Bapu's message, 'Do or Die', she said.

Usha Mehta was born on March 25, 1920, in Saras, Gujarat to Gheliben Mehta, a homemaker and Hariprasad Mehta, a district-level judge. Her father's involvement in the Indian National Congress made her to be a part of the movement. She never married and had no children.  

She earned a Ph.D. in Gandhian Thought from the University of Bombay and for 30 years, she served as a professor of political science at Wilson College. She was the President of the Gandhi Peace Foundation and in 1998, India honoured her Padma Vibhushan. She died on August 11, 2000, at the age of 80.

The Bollywood film, based on her life, Ae Watan Mere Watan, is set to release on March 21. In the leading role is Sara Ali Khan (as Usha Mehta), who is notable for her appearances in  Kedarnath  (2018),  Love Aaj Kal  (2020) and the latest  Murder Mubarak  (2024). 

The movie is directed and co-written by Kannan Iyer, who was the writer of  Victory  (2009) and the director of  Ek Thi Daayan  (2013), and produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra. Apart from Khan, the movie also stars Alexx O'Nell, Emraan Hashmi and Abhay Verma. The movie is set to start streaming on Amazon Prime Video March 21 onwards.

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Usha Mehta, who has died aged 80, was a veteran Gandhian and one of the key players in the Quit India movement. On August 9 1942, in a daring act, she unfurled the Indian national movement's tricolour in Bombay (now Mumbai) following the arrest by the British of the entire Congress leadership, including the Mahatma himself.

She also launched an underground radio to spread Gandhi's call to the British to "Quit India", and his exhortation to his own people to "do or die" to achieve the goal of "complete independence from the foreign yoke". She was arrested for broadcasting on Congress radio, which she described as her "finest moment". It was also, she said, her saddest moment because it was an Indian technician who betrayed the broadcasters to the police. Mehta refused to answer the judge's questions, and was jailed for four years.

Born in Gujarat state, Mehta moved to Bombay in 1933 with her father, a judge, and went to Chandaramji high school. As a child, she met Gandhi, and became his ardent follower for the rest of her life, often in the vanguard of demonstrations. She remembered picketing liquor shops at a time when "slogans were our only weapons". She felt the struggle was not just to win political freedom, but was also a moral campaign.

Mehta became so singleminded in her dedication to the Gandhian philosophy that she vowed never to marry - a big decision in an era when Indian women were forced to marry at a young age. Even after inde- pendence, an event she felt was blighted by partition, Mehta continued to serve India and follow Gandhian principles.

More recently, she was disturbed by what she saw as the dirty politics and corrup tion of modern India. "Did our great leaders sacrifice their lives for this kind of India?" she would lament. "It is a pity the new generation of political activists and leaders are paying scant respect to the Gandhian ideas, the chief among which was non-violence. If we don't mend our ways, we may find ourselves back at square one."

Her closest surviving relative is a nephew, Ketan Mehta, the noted Hindi film-maker.

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Usha Mehta Biography in english (Freedom Fighter of India)

• Post author: studybymind
• Post published: August 28, 2022
• Post category: Popular person (लोकप्रिय व्यक्ति)
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Usha Mehta Introduction

Usha Mehta is the female Indian freedom fighter (1942). Usha Mehta Biography in english – Who participated with Gandhi in the Quit India Movement. Usha Mehta was a woman of Gandhian ideology. Usha is also called India’s first radio woman. Because in the fight for independence, the intelligence radio service was started. Many brave women were born in India, one of them was Usha Mehta. Let us introduce you to his life  

उषा मेहता जीवन परिचय in hindi – ” Click here “

Usha Mehta Biography (Education, Death, Family, Birth, Award, Freedom fighter, Secret Congress Radio, Quit India movement) Usha Mehta Biography , Usha Mehta Biography in english (Freedom Fighter of India)

Usha Mehta Early Life and Birth

Usha Mehta was born on 25 March 1920 in Saras District Surat Gujarat. She was the second child of her parents. Usha Mehta used to live in Gandhian ideology since childhood. She considered Gandhiji as her ideal since childhood. She loved her parents very much. Usha Mehta’s early life was spent in Saras district, Surat, Gujarat. She moved to Bombay after her father was transferred to Bombay.

Usha Mehta’s Education

Usha Mehta had her early education at Kheda School in her village Saras. Due to the transfer of Usha Mehta’s father Hariprasad Mehta (District Magistrate in British Raj) from Surat, she had to settle in Bombay with her family, so she did her high school education from Chandaji School, Bombay. She was very smart in studies. Usha Mehta completed her graduation from Wilson College Bombay. After that, after independence from jail in 1946, he continued his studies. Completed PhD from Gandhian ideology from Bombay University.

Usha Mehta’s Family

Usha Mehta was born in a Gujarati family. She was the darling daughter of her parents. Usha Mehta’s father’s name was Hariprasad Mehta, he was a judge. Usha Mehta’s mother’s name was Gheniben Mehta, which was a duodenum. He also had a brother in Usha Mehta’s family.

• Father’s Name Hariprasad Mehta (Judge)
• Mother’s Name Ghaniben Mehta (Housewife)
• Brother’s Name Not Known 

Usha Mehta’s Political Career (Quit India Movement)

Usha Mehta used to go to college at that time. He started the Secret Congress Radio Service during Quit India Movement Quiet India Movement. Usha Mehta was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s path of non-violence to get freedom. Quit India Movement was started on 3 August 1942 at Gopalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai. Along with Gandhiji, all the big leaders of Congress were arrested. Apart from Usha Mehta, some small Congress leaders had escaped arrest.

How was Congress Secret Radio established? (Secret Congress Radio)

On 14 August 1942, Usha Mehta, along with her colleagues, started the service of Secret Congress Radio at the age of 22 at the intelligence base. The Congress Secret Radio, run by Usha Mehta, ran for a total of 88 days while escaping from the British. Intelligence radio was broadcast only three times – the first broadcast on 27 August 1942, the second from February to March 1948 and the first week of January 1944. In the first broadcast, Usha Mehta announced on the radio in a low voice –

  This is Congress Radio’s service, which is being broadcast from any part of India at 42.34m. Usha Mehta

Usha Mehta was accompanied by Vithalbhai Zaveri, Chandrakant Zaveri, Babubhai Thakkar and Nanka Motwani at that time. Nanka Motwani was the owner of Shikamo Radio. Historian Gautam Chatterjee writes in his “ Secret Congress Broad caste and Starmina Railway Track during Quit India movement” that when the voices of revolution were zero. Congress Secret Radio gave courage to the people in those dark moments.

” More about Congress Secret Radio “

Arrest of usha mehta.

The stations of this intelligence radio service were changed almost daily to save Usha Mehta from the eyes of British rule. But even after many efforts, the Intelligence Congress Radio Service could not last long. On 12 November 1942, the British government arrested Usha Mehta and many of her associates. The case was tried in the High Court and Usha Mehta was sentenced to four years. Usha completed her sentence with the hope of freedom and was released from prison in 1946.

Physical appearance of Usha Mehta

• age – 80 years (at the time of death)
• height – 5.3 feet
• Hair color – white
• eye color – black
• skin color – fair
• Cause of death – at the age of 80 due to illness

Married life, Husband name of Usha Mehta

Usha Mehta was a social worker. He devoted his whole life in social service. She remained unmarried throughout her life . He never married.

Usha Mehta Award and Reward

Awarded the Padma Vibhushan Award by the Government of India in the year 1998.

Usha Mehta Biopic Film (Film, Movie)

Usha Mehta was a 1942 freedom fighter woman. She was a woman of Gandhian ideology. Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan will play the character of Usha Mehta in the film “Yeh Watan Mere Watan” by Bollywood film director Karan Johar (Dharma Production). Usha Mehta played an important role in the Quit India Movement of 1942. Where she used to run an underground radio channel.

Death of Usha Mehta

Usha Mehta also attended the anniversary celebrations of the Quit India Movement in August 2000 due to ill-health. Suddenly his health worsened and he died on 11 August 2000. When Usha Mehta was 80 years old.

FAQ Section

Q. who was usha mehta.

Ans . Usha Mehta is a woman Indian freedom fighter (1942). Who participated with Gandhiji in Quit India movement Usha Mehta was a woman of Gandhian ideology. Usha is also called India’s first radio woman. Because she started the intelligence radio service in the freedom struggle.

Q. Who started the underground radio station during the Quit India Movement?

Ans . The underground radio station was started by Usha Mehta during the Quit India Movement.

Q. Who started the Congress Secret Radio Service?

A ns . On August 14, 1942, Usha Mehta, along with her colleagues, started the service of Secret Congress Radio at the age of 22 at the intelligence base. Congress Secret Radio run by Usha Mehta while escaping from the British ran for a total of 88 days.

Q. When was the first broadcast of Congress Secret Radio?

Ans. Congress Secret Radio operated by Usha Mehta ran for a total of 88 days, only three times Intelligence Radio first broadcast 27 August 1942.

Q. What was the name of Usha Mehta’s husband?

Ans . Usha Mehta was a social worker. He devoted his whole life in social service. She remained single throughout her life, she never married.

Q. How did Usha Mehta die?

Ans. Usha Mehta died due to ill health in August 2000 at the celebrations of the Quit India Movement had attended. Suddenly his health worsened and he died on 11 August 2000. When Usha Mehta was 80 years old.

Q. What was the name of Usha Mehta’s mother father ?

Ans. father Name of Hariprasad Mehta (Judge) Name of Mother Gheniben Mehta (Housewife)

See also –

• more Information about Usha Mehta – “Click here”
• Draupadi Murmu (President of India) Biography – “Click here”
• Mahatma Gandhi Biography – “Click Here”

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Who was Usha Mehta, the inspiration behind Sara Ali Khan’s 'Ae Watan Mere Watan'?

Sara Ali Khan’s ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ follows the life of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio, an underground radio that operated during the Quit India Movement in 1942. The freedom fighter was an integral part of India’s independence struggle and helped amplify Mahatma Gandhi’s message for rebellion against the British Raj

The Sara Ali Khan starrer Ae Watan Mere Watan was released on Amazon Prime on Thursday, 21 March.

The historical biographical drama follows the life of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio – an underground radio station that operated during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Here’s all we know about her.

A student activist with a powerful voice

Usha Mehta was born on 25 March 1920, in Gujarat’s Saras, to Gheliben Mehta, a homemaker and Hariprasad Mehta, a district-level judge under the British Raj, according to The New York Times .

Since childhood, she had witnessed her family fighting for India’s independence.

According to The Quint , gaining inspiration from her family, at eight, Mehta took part in her first protest against an Englishmen committee that was led by Sir John Simon to recommend reforms in India.

In an interview in Naveen Joshi’s book, Freedom Fighters Remembered (1997) , she recalled, according to BBC News , “The first slogan I shouted against the British was ‘Simon Go Back.”

In her teenage years, she took part in civil disobedience movements – from picketing to spinning cotton to reject British goods. She responded to Gandhi’s call to defy the salt tax.

“I had the satisfaction of breaking the law and doing something for the nation even as a young child,” she said in an interview later.

Joining Quit India Movement

Mehta’s family relocated to Bombay (now Mumbai) after her father retired in 1930.

According to The Indian Express , the Quit India Movement was launched on 8 August 1942. “Do or Die. We shall either free India or die trying,” Mahatma Gandhi said in his famous address at Bombay’s Gowalia Tank maidan.

The movement witnessed mass civil disobedience, public demonstrations against British rule, and even the setting up of parallel governments in certain regions, leading to the arrest of tens of thousands of protesters, the newspaper said.

All India Congress’ senior leadership – Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhai Patel – was also arrested the next day. The party, too, was banned.

It was at this time when younger leaders led the movement amidst brutal repression by colonial authorities.

Mehta was a 22-year-old law student in Bombay and yearned to be part of India’s freedom struggle. She left her studies to dedicate herself to the movement.

“We were drawn to the movement,” Mehta later told Usha Thakkar (as the latter quoted in her book Congress Radio: Usha Mehta and the Underground Radio Station of 1942 ).

Setting up underground radio station

Unlike many, Mehta did not believe in public demonstrations at a time when “the press is gagged and news is banned.”

“A transmitter helps a good deal in acquainting the public with the events that occur,” Mehta recalled in a 1969 interview.

However, setting up a radio station wasn’t easy, especially at a time when the British had suspended all amateur radio licenses across the country. According to Indian Express, operators were supposed to turn in all equipment to the authorities or face severe punishment.

With the help of other activists like Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, and Chandrakant Jhaveri, Mehta secured a ghost transmitter, as per NYT .

Procuring funds for the enterprise, getting technical help and equipment was their biggest challenge. Coming to rescue was Nariman Printer, who held an amateur transmitting license prior to the War. He provided part of his ghost transmitter despite the ban.

However, his reputation was somewhat doubtful. With no ideological affinity to the national movement or the party, Printer helped the Congress Radio team for purely financial reasons, as per Indian Express .

Even so, a working radio transmitter was put together in August on the top floor of Chowpatty’s Sea View Apartment. In the evening, Mehta went live for the first time, saying, “This is the Congress Radio calling on (a wavelength) 42.34 metres, from somewhere in India.”

According to BBC , initially, the team broadcast twice a day, in Hindi and English, only to reduce it later to just once in the evening between 7.30 and 8.30 pm.

Congress Radio was an instant hit and went on to become the most preferred news source for Indians.

Mehta recounted to Thakkar’s Congress Radio , “We were the first to give the news of the Chittagong bomb raid, of the Jamshedpur strike and of the happenings in Ballia. We broadcast the full description of the atrocities in Ashti and Chimur. The newspapers dared not touch these subjects under the prevailing conditions; only the Congress Radio could defy the orders and tell the people what was really happening.”

Going beyond the news, the secret radio station also broadcasted political speeches, passed along information from the All India Congress Committee and delivered messages from across the country, as per NYT .

The struggle to keep it going

Mehta and her teammates took extreme steps to evade detection. They altered the location of their transmissions on a daily basis.

According to NYT , a police van would frequently pursue them, so they had to move around to mask their whereabouts. They operated a recording station apart from the broadcast station and broadcast messages using two transmitters for a while in order to reduce danger.

The Congress Radio team continuously attempted to respond after the official All India Radio (AIR), which other activists referred to as “Anti-India Radio,” interrupted their transmissions.

However, on 12 November 1942, the operation was busted after Printer was apprehended and, in exchange for his immunity, revealed the location, as per Indian Express .

Mehta recalled the “memorable day,” as per the newspaper, “When I was putting on the ‘Vande Mataram’ record, I heard hard knocks on the door… I saw a big battalion of policemen headed by the deputy commissioner of police entering the room with triumphant smiles… the police chief said… (to) stop the record… mustering all the courage at my command, (I) firmly replied, ‘The record will not stop. This is our national song. So all of you stand at attention.’”

More than 50 officers had stormed through the three bolted doors on what would be the final day of Congress Radio’s broadcasting. Mehta and another activist were arrested; two others were caught in the following days.

After a long investigation and confinement, a five-week trial, Mehta was jailed until March 1946 in Pune’s Yerawada Jail.

“I came back from jail a happy and, to an extent, a proud person, because I had the satisfaction of carrying out Bapu’s (Gandhi) message, ‘Do or die’ and of having contributed my humble might to the cause of freedom,” she said.

She was hailed in the nationalist media as “Radio-ben.”

Independence, PhD, & Padma Vibhushan

When India finally achieved independence in 1947, the British had divided the country into two parts – India and Pakistan, sending the region into chaos. The divide results in massive bloodshed with more than 10 million Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs seeking to find their home. It was the history’s largest migration.

Mehta was torn. “In a way I was very happy, but sad at the same time because of partition. It was an independent India but a divided India,” she was quoted as saying in the book  Freedom Fighters Remembered .

She was away from active politics in independent India due to her ill health but continued to remain a staunch Gandhian till the very end.

According to The New York Times , she penned the script for a documentary on Gandhi produced by her colleague at the radio station, earned a PhD in Gandhian thought at the University of Bombay. She taught political science and ran the politics department at the university. She also taught at Wilson College for 30 years. Mehta was also the president of the Gandhi Peace Foundation.

In 1998, she was awarded India’s highest civilian honours, the Padma Vibhushan.

She lived a simple life, riding the bus and donning khadis , a handwoven garment that became a symbol of defiance in Gandhi’s time, as per the report. She never married or had children.

She died on 11 August 2000 at the age of 80.

With inputs from agencies

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Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

Story of usha mehta and the secret congress radio.

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Congress Radio, Usha Mehta and other personalities mentioned

Mains level: NA

Why in the news?

• Recently premiered on an OTT Platform, the film “Ae Watan Mere Watan” delves into the narrative of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio during the Quit India Movement of 1942 .

Who was Usha Mehta (1920-2000)?

• Usha Mehta was born on March 25, 1920, in Mumbai , India.
• Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience , Usha Mehta became actively involved in the Indian independence movement from a young age.
• One of Usha Mehta’s most notable contributions to the freedom struggle was her involvement in the radio broadcasting network known as the “ Secret Congress Radio .”
• She was conferred the Padma Vibhushan , one of India’s highest civilian honours in 1998.

The Secret ‘Congress Radio’

• On August 8, 1942, the historic Quit India Resolution was passed during the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay.
• In this response, the idea of an underground radio station, known by various names such as the Freedom Radio , the Ghost Radio , or the Congress Radio, was conceived to counter the British-controlled AIR.
• Usha Mehta, a 22 YO master’s student at Wilson College, became the voice of the Congress Radio .
• The radio was an expensive endeavour, but funds were procured through various means, including contributions from Mehta’s colleague, Babubhai Khakhar .
• Radio engineering expert Nariman Abarbad Printer constructed the Congress Radio transmission set.
• Their first broadcast was on 14 August 1942.
• Welcome line in her voice: “ This is the Congress Radio calling on 42.34 from somewhere in India .”
• In the beginning, they were broadcasting twice a day, in Hindi and English . But they reduced it to just once in the evening between 30 and 8.30 pm .
• On 12 th November 1942, the police raided the radio while Vande Mataram was being played and arrested Mehta and others.

2011: With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for-

• Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement
• Participating in the Second Round Table Conference
• Leading a contingent of Indian National Army
• Assisting in the formation of Interim Government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

2021: With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

• The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
• The Viceroy’s Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.
• The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
• Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over

Practice MCQ:

In context to the Secret ‘Congress Radio’ in modern Indian history, consider the following statements:

• It was established to supplement the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930s.
• Usha Mehta was the voice of Congress Radio.
• It was broadcasted twice a day, in Hindi and English

How many of the given statements is/are correct?

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Ae Watan Mere Watan: The Story of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio

“Ae Watan Mere Watan,” movie was released recently based on the biography of Usha Mehta.

About Usha Mehta

• Usha Mehta was a law student in Bombay. 

• She did not fancy leading public demonstrations.
• Radio as a Medium: Based on her study of the history of revolutions in other countries of the world, she suggested establishing a radio station in India.
• She was instrumental in establishing Congress Radio, an underground radio station that operated during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Background of Quit India Movement: Do or Die

• Launched on:   August 8, 1942.
• Slogan of ‘Do or Die’: by Mahatma Gandhi at Bombay’s Gowalia Tank maidan . 
• Method of Struggle: Mass civil disobedience , massive public demonstrations calling for the end of British rule, acts of public sabotage, and even the setting up of parallel governments in certain regions.
• They arrested many protestors in response. 
• The Congress’ senior leadership, including Gandhi ji, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhai Patel , were put in prison by August 9 itself, and the party was banned.
• Result: A new crop of younger leaders took the lead , sustaining the QIM even amidst brutal repression by colonial authorities.

Setting up an Underground Radio Station

• To spread the message of Independence: Launched as part of the Quit India Movement, Congress Radio was one of the earliest radio networks established in India. 
• It was used by Gandhiji to spread the message of Independence.

Organisers:  

• Alongside Usha Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, and Chandrakant Jhaveri were key figures in organising Congress Radio.

Challenges:

• Procurement of funds for the enterprise.
• Getting technical expertise, and equipment:  Radio transmission was still at its infancy, and there were few people in India who could operate the equipment. Fewer still were Indians.

Contribution of Nariman Printer: 

• He was able to put together a working radio transmitter.

Significance of the Congress Radio 

• Example; Chittagong bomb raid, Jamshedpur strike, establishment of Parallel Government in Ballia, atrocities in Ashti and Chimur etc. 
• Broadcasted Political Speeches : Directly addressing  students, workers, and peasants. 
• Motive to Reach Masses: Broadcasts were made both in English and Hindustani.
• Directives to Indian People: Gave certain directives to the Indian people in their fight for freedom.

End to the Radio

• Efforts to avoid detection by Britishers: Changed transmission locations every few days.
• Final Broadcast: The operation was finally busted after the capture of Nariman Printer , who in return for immunity, disclosed the location of Congress Radio .
• Acquitted: Vithalbhai and Motwane were acquitted, 
• Punishments: Usha Mehta, Babubhai, and Chandrakant received stern sentences. 
• Released from Jail: Usha Mehta was released from Pune’s Yerawada Jail in March 1946 , and hailed in the nationalist media as “Radio-ben”.  
• Later Years of Life: Her ill health kept her out of active politics in independent India, but she remained a staunch Gandhian till the very end.
• Recognition: The Union Government conferred upon her the Padma Vibhushan , India’s second-highest civilian honour, in 1998. 
• Passed Away: She passed away after a brief illness in 2000.

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• Associates & Disciples of Mahatma Gandhi
• Disciples of Mahatma Gandhi
• Usha Mehta, Freedom Fighter against British Rule in India

• IAS Preparation
• This Day in History
• This Day In History Mar - 25

Eminent Freedom Fighter Usha Mehta's Birth - [March 25, 1920]

  Usha Mehta, noted Gandhian and freedom fighter, most known for organizing the secret Congress Radio, was born on 25 March 1920 in the village of Saras, near the city of Surat in Gujarat. This article will give a brief detail about her within the context of the IAS Exam

Usha Mehta Biography

UPSC aspirants should be aware of the different personalities involved in the freedom movement and their contributions towards India’s independence. In this edition of This Day in History, you can read about Gandhian Usha Mehta and her role in the movement.

• Usha Mehta was one of the most prominent Gandhians in India. She saw Mahatma Gandhi for the first time when she was just five at his Ashram at Ahmedabad.
• She entered the freedom struggle when she was just eight years old when she marched against the Simon Commission .
• Mehta’s father was a judge and so did not support her in her fight against the British. But in 1930, after he retired from service, this constraint was no longer present.
• Even as a teenager, Mehta took part in the struggle for independence by distributing banned publications and spreading information.
• While still young, she made the decision to spend her life in service and adopt a Gandhian way of life. She gave up luxuries and decided to become a lifelong celibate.
• After her schooling in Gujarat, she entered Wilson College and earned a degree in philosophy. She started her law studies but dropped it midway to participate in the Quit India Movement.
• Mehta was one of the junior congress leaders at that time who was in charge of addressing workers during the movement as almost all of the senior leaders were imprisoned by the government.
• On 14 August 1942, Mehta along with her associates started the Secret Congress Radio. The radio broadcast the voice messages of Gandhi and several other leaders to the public. The station changed its place after every broadcast to avoid capture by the government.
• The secret radio was also assisted by veteran socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia .
• However, in November that year, the police found out their location and arrested everyone including Mehta. They were betrayed by an insider.
• She was kept in solitary confinement and interrogated for six months by the CID. She did not betray the movement despite all hardships and even inducements. She was offered a chance to study abroad but she chose to remain silent.
• Even in court, she refused to answer any question and was awarded four-year imprisonment.
• She was released in 1946 by the interim government in Bombay under the orders of the home minister Morarji Desai.
• After independence, Mehta resumed her studies and earned a PhD from Bombay University. She became an expert in Gandhian thought and philosophy. She authored many essays and books in English and Gujarati.
• On the deteriorating standards of politics in the country, she lamented with the words, “Certainly this is not the freedom we fought for.”
• Mehta participated in the anniversary of the Quit India movement every year till 2000. On 11 August 2000, she passed away peacefully aged 80.

See previous  ‘This Day in History’ here .

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