Usha Mehta, Biography, Contributions, Secret Congress Radio

Usha Mehta was an Indian freedom fighter and dedicated follower of Mahatma Gandhi, remembered for establishing the Secret Congress Radio during the Quit India Movement of 1942. She used underground broadcasting to spread uncensored news, share messages from national leaders and keep the public informed despite British censorship. Her courage, commitment to Gandhian principles and refusal to betray the freedom movement made her an important figure in India’s struggle for independence. She received the Padma Vibhushan in 1998.

Usha Mehta Biography

Usha Mehta was born in March 1920 in Surat, Gujarat. Her early association with Gandhi shaped her commitment to India’s freedom struggle.

• Birth and Early Life: Usha Mehta was born on 25 March 1920 in Saras, a village near Surat in Gujarat. She developed an interest in India’s independence movement during childhood.
• First Meeting with Gandhi: At the age of five, she visited Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram in Ahmedabad. This early experience influenced her thinking and encouraged her to follow Gandhian principles.
• Participation in Protests: In 1928, at the age of eight, she participated in a protest against the Simon Commission and raised the slogan “Simon Go Back” against British rule.
• Family Background: Her father served as a judge under British rule and initially discouraged her political participation. After his retirement in 1930, she gained greater freedom to join nationalist activities.
• Education: She studied at Chandaramji High School in Bombay and graduated from Wilson College in 1939 with a first class degree in philosophy. She later began studying law.
• Gandhian Lifestyle: Deeply influenced by Gandhi, Usha adopted an austere lifestyle, wore Khadi clothes and avoided luxuries. She also decided to remain celibate and devoted herself to Gandhian ideals.
• Joining the Freedom Struggle: In 1942, she discontinued her law studies to participate full time in the Quit India Movement. She was then around 22 years old and actively supported underground nationalist activities.
• Death: After a lifetime devoted to public service and Gandhian thought, Usha Mehta died on 11 August 2000 at the age of 80, shortly after attending Quit India Movement anniversary celebrations.

Usha Mehta Contributions

Usha Mehta contributed to India’s independence through underground communication, nationalist activities and the promotion of Gandhian philosophy, both during colonial rule and after independence.

• Establishment of Secret Congress Radio: She helped establish the Secret Congress Radio in August 1942. The underground station became an important medium for sharing uncensored information during the Quit India Movement.
• Countering British Censorship: The radio broadcast news and information restricted by British authorities. It helped Indians access alternative accounts of the freedom struggle when official communication was controlled by the colonial government.
• Broadcasting National Leaders’ Messages: Congress Radio transmitted recorded messages from Gandhi and other prominent leaders. These broadcasts helped communicate nationalist ideas when several senior leaders were imprisoned.
• Strengthening Public Awareness: Through underground broadcasting, Usha helped spread information about developments across the country. The station enabled people to remain informed despite restrictions on newspapers and other communication channels.
• Supporting Underground Activities: Before and during the Quit India Movement, she participated in distributing secret bulletins and publications. She also carried messages to prisoners and supported the wider network of freedom activists.
• Maintaining Public Contact: Following the arrest of senior Congress leaders, Secret Congress Radio helped maintain communication between the freedom movement and the public, strengthening the connection between nationalist leaders and ordinary Indians.
• Demonstrating Courage: Despite interrogation, solitary confinement and imprisonment, Usha refused to disclose information about the movement. Her conduct demonstrated determination and commitment to India’s independence.
• Promoting Gandhian Philosophy: After independence, she continued spreading Gandhi’s political and social ideas through academic work, public activities and writing. Her lifestyle reflected simplicity, discipline and dedication to public service.
• University Teaching and Research: She worked at the University of Bombay as a research assistant, lecturer and professor before becoming head of the Department of Civics and Politics. She retired in 1980.
• Writing and Publications: Usha authored articles, essays and books in English and Gujarati. Through these writings, she contributed to discussions on Gandhian thought, political ideas and the values associated with India’s freedom struggle.
• Organizations: She served as president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, an organisation dedicated to preserving Gandhi’s legacy. The trust acquired Mani Bhavan in Mumbai and developed it into a Gandhi memorial.
• Leadership in Peace Initiatives: Usha served as president of the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi. Her involvement reflected her continued commitment to Gandhian values and the promotion of peace after independence.

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Usha Mehta Recognitions

Usha Mehta received national recognition for her role in the independence movement, her work with Congress Radio and her continued commitment to Gandhian principles.

• Padma Vibhushan 1998: The Government of India conferred the Padma Vibhushan on Usha Mehta in 1998. It is India’s second highest civilian award and recognised her contribution to the nation.
• Recognition as a Freedom Fighter: She is remembered for her active participation in the freedom struggle, particularly her underground activities and efforts to circulate nationalist information during the Quit India Movement.
• Popularly Known as Radio ben: Usha Mehta was remembered as “Radio ben” for her pioneering role in operating Secret Congress Radio. The name reflects her association with underground broadcasting during British rule.
• Legacy of Secret Congress Radio: Her work in establishing the underground station remains an important example of how communication helped sustain nationalist activities despite censorship and the arrest of senior leaders.

Secret Congress Radio

Secret Congress Radio, also known as Congress Radio, was an underground broadcasting station established during the Quit India Movement in 1942. It helped circulate uncensored news when British authorities restricted nationalist communication.

• Background and Purpose: Following the outbreak of the Second World War, British authorities suspended amateur radio licences across the Empire. Congress Radio emerged as an underground means of communicating nationalist messages despite restrictions.
• Establishment in 1942: Usha Mehta and her associates began organising the clandestine station on 14 August 1942. Its broadcasts started later that month during the intensifying Quit India Movement.
• First Broadcast: One of its best known opening announcements was, “This is the Congress radio calling on 42.34 meters from somewhere in India.” The announcement highlighted its secret location and nationalist purpose.
• Key Organisers: Usha Mehta worked with Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar and Nanka Motwani. Their combined efforts helped organise the station and secure the equipment needed for broadcasting.
• Technical Assistance: Nanka Motwani, associated with Chicago Radio, supplied equipment and technicians. Other supporters, including Nariman Printer, contributed technical assistance to the underground broadcasting effort.
• Broadcasting Nationalist Information: The station transmitted uncensored news, recorded messages from Gandhi and other leaders, and information about the freedom movement. It offered an alternative to reports controlled by colonial authorities.
• Changing Locations: To avoid detection, the organisers shifted the station between locations. These movements were essential to keeping the underground operation active while the British police attempted to identify its source.
• Arrest and Closure: On 12 November 1942, British authorities discovered the station and arrested Usha Mehta and several associates. Its closure ended a short but significant chapter in underground communication during the independence struggle.

Role of Usha Mehta in Quit India Movement

Usha Mehta played a significant role in the Quit India Movement by supporting underground activities and establishing a radio station that helped spread information after the British arrested senior Congress leaders.

• Background: The Quit India Movement began in August 1942 following the Congress resolution and Gandhi’s call for an end to British rule. Usha left her law studies to participate actively in the struggle.
• Continuing the Movement After Arrests: British authorities arrested Gandhi and several senior Congress leaders around the beginning of the movement. Usha and other activists helped sustain nationalist efforts despite the loss of established leadership.
• Establishing Underground Communication: Recognising the importance of communication, Usha helped establish Secret Congress Radio. It enabled the freedom movement to circulate information beyond the reach of colonial censorship.
• Broadcasting Messages from Leaders: The station transmitted recorded messages from Gandhi and other prominent nationalists. These broadcasts helped communicate their views and maintain public awareness while many leaders remained in prison.
• Disseminating Uncensored News: Congress Radio circulated information that the British controlled administration restricted. By providing alternative news, it helped people understand developments in the movement and the broader struggle against colonial rule.
• Coordinating Nationalist Awareness: The station helped keep freedom movement leaders connected with the public. Its broadcasts supported the flow of information at a time when arrests and censorship disrupted ordinary channels of communication.
• Working with Fellow Activists: Usha collaborated with associates who contributed equipment, technical skills and organisational support. Their collective efforts demonstrate the importance of cooperation in maintaining underground activities during the movement.
• Facing Arrest and Imprisonment: British authorities arrested Usha and her associates in November 1942. After interrogation and trial, she received a four year prison sentence and was confined at Yerawada Jail in Pune.
• Refusing to Betray the Movement: Despite prolonged interrogation, solitary confinement and offers of inducements, Usha refused to disclose information about her associates. Her decision reflected her commitment to the freedom struggle.