FREEDOM FIGHTER

We have read about many Indian freedom fighter and today I'm going to write about one such freedom fighter who started radio to appreciate "Quite India" movement.

Usha Mehta was born on 25th March 1920, in Saras village near Surat in Gujarat. Usha Mehta received her initial school education at Kheda and Bharuch in Gujarat then Chandaramji high school in Bombay (now Mumbai). In 1939, she graduated in philosophy from Winston College. She also graduated in political science and after independence she earned PhD in Gandhian thought.

Usha Mehta was a prominent figure in Indian independence movement, best known for her role in organizing the underground radio station called "Congress radio" during "Quite India" movement in 1942. On 14th August 1942, Usha Mehta and some of her close associate began Secret Congress Radio, a clandestine radio station by which she helped to operate broadcasted news and message to keep spirit of resistance alive among Indians when most nationalist leaders were arrested and communication channels heavily censored by British authorities.

Her associates were Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar, and Nanka Motwani owner of Chicago Radio, who supplied equipment and provided technicians. Many other leaders like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutrao Patwardhan and Purushottam Trikamdas also assisted her Secret Congress Radio. This radio broadcast recorded message of Gandhiji and prominent leader across India. To elude the authorities, the organizer moved station's location almost daily. On 12th November, she was arrested by police along with associates and she was interrogated by CID for 6 months then she was imprisoned in Yervada Jail in Pune for 4 years.

After independence, she wrote many essays and articles on various socio-political movement in English and Gujarat. She also, co-authored books like Mahatma Gandhi and Humanism, Women and men voters, the 1977-80 experiment.

Indian government honored her with Padma Vibhushan in 1998 for her contribution.