usha mehta biography in english

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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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.

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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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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 (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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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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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.”

References/Sources: [ + ]

Usha Mehta Biography in english (Freedom Fighter of India)

• Post author: studybymind
• Post published: August 28, 2022
• Post category: Popular person (लोकप्रिय व्यक्ति)
• Post comments: 0 Comments

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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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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Ae Watan Mere Watan movie was released recently which is based on the biography of Indian freedom fighter Usha Mehta.

About usha mehta.

• Usha Mehta was born in a village named Saras, near Surat in Gujarat in 1920.
• She was a true Gandhian at heart and was popularly known as Ushaben.
• At the age of eight in 1928, she participated in a protest march against the Simon Commission.
• On 14 August 1942, she and her associates established the Secret Congress Radio during the  Quit India Movement , a covert radio station that went on air on 27 August.
• It played a crucial role in keeping the freedom movement leaders connected with the public.

Setting up an underground station

• Background: At the advent of the War in 1939, the British had suspended all amateur radio licences across the Empire. Operators were supposed to turn in all equipment to the authorities, with severe punishment for those who failed to do so.
• Alongside Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, and Chandrakant Jhaveri were key figures in organising Congress Radio.
• The trial of the five accused in the— Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Nanak Gainchand Motwane (who sold key pieces of equipment to the team) — generated a lot of excitement in Bombay.
• Vithalbhai and Motwane were acquitted, Mehta, Babubhai, and Chandrakant received stern sentences.
• Usha Mehta was released from Pune’s Yerawada Jail in March 1946, and hailed in the nationalist media as “Radio-ben”.

Q1) What is the Quit India Movement?

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or Bharat Chodo Andolan, was a significant  civil disobedience movement launched by  Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress on August 8, 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan also known as August Kranti Maidan in Bombay.

Source: Ae Watan Mere Watan: The story of Usha Mehta and Congress Radio

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Essay, Biography, Speech on ‘Usha Mehta’ Complete Biography in 370 Words for Class 8, 9, 10 and 12 Students.

Biography of ‘usha mehta’.

Usha Mehta (March 25, 1920-August 11, 2000) was a Gandhian and freedom fighter of India. She is also remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, also called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1998, the Government of India conferred on her Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

Usha was born in Saras village near Surat in Gujarat. When she was just five years old, Usha first saw Gandhi while on a visit to his ashram at Ahmedabad. Shortly afterward, Gandhi arranged a camp near her village in which little Usha participated, attending sessions and doing a little spinning.

Usha’s father was a judge under the British Raj. He, therefore, did not encourage her to participate in the freedom struggle. However, this limitation was removed when her father retired in 1930.

Gandhi and the congress had announced that the Quit India Movement would commence on August 9, 1942, with a rally at Gowalia Tank grounds in Mumbai.

Nearly all leaders including Gandhiji were arrested before that date. However, a vast crowd of Indians gathered at Gowalia Tank Ground on the appointed day. It was left to a group of junior leaders and workers to address them and hoist the national flag. Usha was one of those who hoisted the tricolor on August 9, 1942 at Gawalia Tank Ground, which was later renamed as “August Kranti Maidan.”

After her incarceration, Usha’s falling health prevented her from participating in politics or social work. The day India gained independence, Usha Mehta was confined to bed and could not attend the official function in New Delhi. She later re-commenced her education and wrote a doctoral dissertation on the political and social thought of Gandhi, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Bombay. She had a long association with Mumbai university in many capacities: as a student, as a research assistant, as a lecturer, a professor, and finally as the head of the Department of civics and politics. She retired from the University of Bombay in 1980.

The Union of India conferred on her Padma Vibhushan in 1998, the second highest civilian award of India.

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• 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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Who Is Usha Mehta? Sara Ali Khan Plays The Brave Freedom Fighter In Ae Watan Mere Watan

By Mashable India

04 March 2024

Ae Watan Mere Watan

Sara ali khan is taking a serious turn in her career by playing the brave and inspiring freedom fighter usha mehta in a historical biopic titled ae watan mere watan. the film will be released on march 21, 2024, on amazon prime video. ahead of the film, here's everything you need to know about usha mehta, a young freedom fighter who fired up her radio to fight british rule in india., who is usha mehta, usha mehta was born in surat where she grew up with patriotic zeal. growing up, she actively participated in the freedom movement and protests despite her father, a judge under the british raj, discouraging her from doing so. inspired by mahatma gandhi, she decided to remain celibate for life and wore only khadi clothes., usha mehta graduated from wilson college, bombay, in 1939 with a first-class degree in philosophy. she dropped her law studies to participate in the 1942 quit india movement at the age of 22., freedom movement, she went on to become one of india's original radio journalists to run an underground radio also called the secret congress radio to aid the nation's fight for independence. the effectiveness of the radio was feared by the british authorities. she was also one of the youngest members in her team., as quoted by india today, dr aloo j dastur wrote in women pioneers in india’s renaissance about usha mehta's work on radio, ''november 12, 1942, when once again it was usha’s striding voice informing the listeners that the police had caught up with the ‘radio station’ which had to be moved from one house-top to another constantly to avoid being confiscated and the staff arrested''., mehta's work landed her in four years of rigorous imprisonment. she was later shifted to jj hospital due to her deteriorating health. post-independence, usha mehta once again turned to education where she went on to become the head of the department. she retired in 1980., she went on to do many philosophical and social works after dedicating her life towards the betterment of the country. she was conferred with padma vibhushan, india's second-highest civilian award, in 1998. she breathed her last on 11 august 2000..

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Overlooked No More: Hansa Mehta, Who Fought for Women’s Equality in India and Beyond

For Mehta, women’s rights were human rights, and in all her endeavors she took women’s participation in public and political realms to new heights.

A postcard depicting Hansa Mehta. Her work included helping to draft India’s first constitution as a newly independent nation. Credit... via Mehta family

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By Radha Vatsal

While researching this article, Radha Vatsal discovered that she and Hansa Mehta both descended from the 19th-century novelist Nandshankar Mehta.

• May 31, 2024

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

Human rights has long been considered a Western concept, but recent scholarship has been uncovering the influence of women from the global south. Women like Hansa Mehta.

Mehta stood up against the British government during India’s struggle for independence. She campaigned for women’s social and political equality and their right to an education. And she fought for her ideals during the framing of the constitution for a newly independent India.

For Mehta, women’s rights were human rights. This conviction was best exemplified at a 1947 meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to which she had been appointed as one of just two women delegates, alongside Eleanor Roosevelt. Mehta boldly objected to the wording of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the commission was tasked with framing.

It read: “All men are born free and equal in dignity and rights, they are endowed by nature with reason and conscience, and should act towards one another like brothers.”

Mehta pointed out that the phrase “all men” was out of date and could be interpreted to exclude women.

Roosevelt countered that the use of the word “men” was “generally accepted to include all human beings,” according to minutes of the meeting. But Mehta — a soft-spoken, slight woman who dressed in traditional saris — held her ground, insisting that the language should be changed to “human beings.”

The declaration was adopted with her suggestion the next year, and it has been used as the foundation for treaties around the world.

Two years earlier, Mehta was one of three women who drafted the Indian Women’s Charter of Rights and Duties, which affirmed that women have equal rights to education, suffrage, pay and distribution of property, as well as the same rights as men in marriage and divorce. When the panel that became the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women in 1946 was forming its guiding principles, it turned to her ideas.

In her work for the U.N., as in all her endeavors, Mehta took women’s participation in public and political realms to new heights.

Hansa Mehta was born on July 3, 1897, in Surat (now in the northwestern state of Gujarat), to Harshadagauri and Manubhai Mehta. Her father, Manubhai, was a philosophy professor at Baroda College (now Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda ); he later became the prime minister of the state of Baroda.

Hansa’s paternal grandfather, Nandshankar Mehta, was headmaster of an English-language school, a civil servant and the author of the historical novel “Karan Ghelo”(1866), about the 13th-century ruler of Gujarat whose foolishness resulted in the loss of his kingdom. It is considered the first novel written in the Gujarati language.

“I was fortunate enough to be born in a family which had liberal ideas on all questions of life,” Mehta said in 1972 in an oral history at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi.

At a time when she estimated that only 2 percent of Indian women were literate, Mehta attended a high school for girls that had been set up by Baroda’s progressive ruler. She read widely, including novels by Sir Walter Scott and James Fenimore Cooper. She was one of a handful of young women to receive a bachelor’s degree, hers in philosophy, from Baroda College.

Mehta continued her education in England, where she met the poet and political activist Sarojini Naidu . Naidu took her under her wing and brought her to the International Woman Suffrage Alliance conference in Geneva in 1920.

Naidu “made me do things I otherwise would not have dreamt of doing,” like speaking in public, Mehta wrote in “Indian Woman,” a 1981 collection of her essays.

In 1923, she traveled alone to the United States, a rare undertaking for women at the time, and visited colleges and universities to learn about American women’s education.

She met Mohandas K. Gandhi when he was in jail in India in the 1920s, and in 1930 she responded to his call for women to join the freedom movement. She picketed stores that sold English rather than Indian-made cloth and helped lead protests, landing in jail three times.

As a founder of the All India Women’s Conference, and later its president, Mehta tied the political struggle for India’s independence with the fight to improve the condition of her countrywomen. “If we wish to build up a democratic state, it will not pay the state to keep half the number of its citizens uneducated,” she wrote in “Indian Woman .” But she opposed special quotas; she wanted to level the playing field between men and women.

Mehta was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women in 1946 and to the Commission on Human Rights in 1947 — the same year that India gained its independence — and served until 1952. In 1946, she was one of about 15 women to join India’s Constituent Assembly, which met to write a constitution for the new nation.

As an assembly member she lobbied for a civil code that would eventually supersede religious laws and ensure gender equality, and she strengthened the language on what are known as “directive principles” — guidelines that are unenforceable by the courts but nonetheless crucial in governing a multiethnic and multireligious secular democracy.

In 1924, Mehta married Jivraj Mehta (a common surname in India), the chief medical officer in Baroda. The marriage was regarded as controversial because he was of a lower caste. She said in her oral history that her own community wanted to expel her from her caste, “but then I told them I was going out of the caste myself, as I did not believe in caste.”

She and her husband had two children. He became the first chief minister of Gujarat in 1960 and, in 1963, the Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, a post equivalent to an ambassadorship.

Mehta was vice chancellor of the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University (commonly known as S.N.D.T.) from 1946 to 1948 and vice chancellor of the University of Baroda from 1949 to 1958. At Baroda, she was the first woman to hold that title at an Indian coed university. The library there is named after her. In 2021, the U.N. held the inaugural Dr. Hansa Mehta Dialogue , a discussion on the fundamental importance of women’s empowerment.

Throughout her life, Mehta wrote essays and translated stories and plays into Gujarati. She died at 98 on April 4, 1995.

In the oral history, when she was asked why India, although it was largely conservative in its attitude toward women, had more women in the public and political sphere than many Western nations, Mehta spoke of Shakti, the female personification of divine power. “Historical reasons,” she replied, “because from the beginning we have always considered woman as a competent person. ‘Shakti’ — she is always worshiped as ‘Shakti.’”

Radha Vatsal’s historical novel “No. 10 Doyers Street,” about a woman journalist from India who becomes embroiled in the case of a Chinatown gangster in 1900s New York, will be published in March 2025.

Overlooked No More

Since 1851, white men have made up a vast majority of new york times obituaries. now, we’re adding the stories of other remarkable people..

Lizzie Magie: Magie’s creation, The Landlord’s Game, inspired the spinoff we know today: Monopoly. But credit for the idea long went to someone else .

Henrietta Leavitt: The portrait that emerged from her discovery , called Leavitt’s Law, showed that the universe was hundreds of times bigger than astronomers had imagined.

Miriam Solovieff: She led a successful career as a violinist  despite coping with a horrific event: witnessing the killing of her mother and sister at the hands of her father at 18.

Beatrix Potter:  She created one of the world’s best-known characters for children and fought to have the book published, but she never sought celebrity status .

Cordell Jackson: A pioneering record-label owner and engineer, she played guitar in a raw and unapologetically abrasive way .

Ethel Lindgren: The anthropologist is best remembered for importing reindeer  to the Scottish Highlands, centuries after they were hunted to extinction.

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