Usha Mehta was an Indian freedom fighter known for her support of Gandhian ideas during India’s struggle for independence. She is recognized for establishing the “Secret Congress Radio” which operated during the Quit India Movement in 1942. The station operated under an underground radio station which was used for three months during the Quit India movement. In 1998, she received the “Padma Vibhushan”, the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India, awarded by the Government of India.
Wiki/Biography
Usha Mehta was born on Thursday, March 25, 1920, in the village of Saras near Surat, Gujarat, India (she died aged 80). Her zodiac sign is Aries. Usha Mehta received her initial school education at Kheda and Bharuch in Gujarat and then at Chandaramji High School in Bombay (now Mumbai) Get an education. In 1939, she received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wilson College, Bombay. Usha Mehta then earned a degree in political science from Wilson College, Bombay. She later received a PhD in Gandhian thought from the University of Bombay (now Bombay University).
appearance
Hair color: gray
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
Her father’s name is Hariprasad Mehta. He was a district level judge during the British Raj. Her mother’s name was Griben Mehta. She is a housewife. She has an older brother.
other relatives
Usha Mehta has three nephews. Her first nephew is Ketan Mehta, a famous Bollywood film producer.
Ketan Mehta
Her second nephew is Dr. Yatin Mehta, an anesthetist. He has also served as the Director of Escorts Hospital and is associated with Medicity, Gurgaon.
Dr. Yatin Mehta
Her third nephew is Dr. Nirad Mehta, an Indian Army officer working at PD Hinduja National Hospital in Mumbai.
Dr Nirad Mehta
husband and children
Usha Mehta never married and had no children.
Profession
freedom fighter
Usha Mehta first met Mahatma Gandhi at the age of five at an ashram in Ahmedabad. Soon after, Gandhi visited her village and attended an event where little Usha took part in spinning chaka and she also attended a speech by Mahatma Gandhi. In 1928, eight-year-old Usha participated in several protests against the Simon Commission and raised the slogan “British Rulers: Simon Go Back”. In an interview with the media, Usha revealed her childhood memories,
Even as a child I found satisfaction in breaking the law and doing something for the country. “
Usha Mehta’s childhood photos
Usha, along with other village girls, took part in the morning protest against British rule, while various liquor shops were surrounded and picketed in front of them. During one of the protests, a girl holding an Indian flag was thrown down by police during a lathi charge. The children then complained to their parents and elders. At the next protest, all these kids were dressed in tricolor (saffron, white and green) and shouted at the British police:
Police officers, you can wave your clubs and batons, but you cannot lower our flags. “
Young Usha Mehta
When Usha participated in several freedom fighter movements, her father was not happy with her. However, when her father retired in 1930, these restrictions were lifted and they moved to Bombay, now Bombay. In 1932, Usha Mehta began to participate in the Quit India Movement, distributing secret bulletins and publications to prisoners and meeting their relatives to deliver secret messages. On August 8, 1942, the Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi announced their withdrawal from the Quit India Movement and delivered an anti-British speech at Govalia Tank Square in Bombay (now Mumbai). All major leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, were arrested that day and the assembled crowd was handled by junior leaders, who addressed them and hoisted the flag. On August 14, 1942, Usha founded the secret Congress Radio along with other freedom fighters. The radio station went on the air on August 27. Her first words broadcast on the Secret Congress Radio were:
This is a call from Congressional Radio [a wavelength of] It is 42.34 meters away from somewhere in India. ”
Usha Mehta’s secret Congress radio equipment settings
Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar and Nanka Motwani were colleagues of Usha who provided radio equipment and technicians for the launch. Other leaders who helped and assisted Usha in setting up the secret Congress Radio station include Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutrao Patwardhan and Purushottam Trikamdas . Messages from Mahatma Gandhi and other famous leaders were broadcast on this secret broadcast. The organizers of the secret Congress Radio avoided being caught by the British by changing the station’s location every day. On November 12, 1942, Usha Mehta was arrested by the police along with the radio organizer and later imprisoned. She was interrogated by the Indian police and CID for six consecutive months. She was placed in solitary confinement for betraying the movement and was lured by the police to study abroad. She remained quiet throughout the court proceedings and did not answer any questions. She was sentenced to four years in prison and lodged in Pune’s Yeravda Jail. During her imprisonment, her health deteriorated and she was admitted to Sir JJ Hospital, Bombay (now Mumbai). Soon her health improved and she was sent to Yeravda prison again. She was released in March 1946 on the orders of Morarji Desai, the interior minister of the provisional government. She is believed to be the first political prisoner to be released from Mumbai. The secret Congress Radio was used for only three months during the Quit India Movement. As a member of Secret Radio, Usha called this her “best moment” in an interview with the media. Later, it was revealed that an Indian technician leaked information about the secret radio to authorities.
Lecturer/Professor
After her release from prison in 1946, she continued her studies at the University of Bombay, where she studied for a PhD. Usha Mehta has worked as a graduate student, assistant professor, lecturer and professor at the University of Mumbai for a long time. She also serves as the Head of the Department of Citizenship and Politics at the University of Mumbai. In 1980, she received a pension from Bombay University.
literature
Soon after India’s independence, Usha Mehta wrote several articles and papers in English and Gujarati on her various socio-political movements. She has co-authored the books Mahatma Gandhi and Humanism (2000) and Women and Men Voters, the 1977-80 Experiment ( 1981), “Gandhi’s Contribution to the Emancipation of Women” (1991), “Vishv Ki Kaljayi Mahilaye”, “Antar Nirantar”, “Dance of the South”, etc.India etc.
Other recognition
Usha Mehta has been elected as the President of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. She was also involved in the affairs of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of India’s freedom, the Indian government organized a series of celebrations. Later, as time passed, Usha remained dissatisfied with the way modern India was developing socially, politically and economically. She said in an interview with “India Today” media,
Of course, this is not the freedom we strive for. Once people are in positions of power, corruption begins. We had no idea that corruption would take hold so quickly. “India has survived as a democracy and even built a good industrial base. Still, this is not the India of our dreams.”
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- Usha Mehta received the Padma Vibhushan Award in 1998, India’s second highest civilian award.
die
In August 2000, Usha Mehta attended the Quit India Movement celebrations at the August Kranti Maidan while suffering from a fever. She died peacefully two days later on August 11, 2000, at the age of 80.
Facts/Trivia
- She earned the name “Ushaben” during the Quit India Movement.
- In 1942, Usha enrolled in law school; however, she later gave up her studies and joined the Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.
Indians protest during Quit India movement
- After Usha was released in 1946, her poor health prevented her from participating in any political and social work. Even she failed to attend the official function of Indian Independence in New Delhi. Later, she continued her studies and submitted a doctoral thesis on Gandhi’s political and social thought. She received her PhD from Bombay University (now Bombay University).
- Initially, Usha and her colleagues broadcast secret broadcasts twice a day in Hindi and English. However, they only air it once between 7.30 and 8.30 pm. It only aired three times. The first broadcast was on August 27, 1942. The second broadcast took place between February and March 1943. The third broadcast was for one week in January 1944.
- The big news broadcast by Usha Mehta and her associates on the clandestine radio station was a Japanese air raid on British troops in Chittagong. The city is now part of Bangladesh. They also broadcast the Jamshedpur strike when Tata Steel workers went on a 13-day strike in support of the Quit India Movement, which is demanding the formation of an Indian government. The steelworks was the largest in the British Empire. The riots in Ashti and Chimul were also known through secret radio, and the police openly opened fire on people and arrested many Congress leaders.
- In a conversation with a media outlet, Usha Mehta revealed that it was the secret Congress radio station that conveyed information to the locals while no newspaper dared to do so. she says,
When newspapers were afraid to touch on these topics under the circumstances, only Congressional Radio could defy orders and tell people what was really going on. “
- She previously revealed in an interview with the BBC that authorities had seized items from their radio station. she says,
They seized equipment and 22 boxes containing photos and audio films of Congress party meetings. “
- When Usha joined the movement in 1932, she initially sold small packets of salt as part of Gandhi’s “Salt March.” This was done to push the government to regulate and monopolize salt in India.
- Usha was a prominent exponent of Gandhi’s philosophy and ideas. She was a follower of Gandhi and decided to remain celibate throughout her life, abstaining from luxurious things and wearing only homespun clothes.
- Ram Manohar Lohia, an activist and socio-political leader of the Indian independence movement, wrote in a letter to Usha Mehta:
I do not know you personally, but I admire your courage and passion, and your desire to contribute to the fire of sacrifice lit by Mahatma Gandhi. “
- Usha Mehta lived a frugal and simple life. She doesn’t drive but takes the bus. She wore handwoven clothes and khadi all her life. She even lived on tea and bread. She used to wake up at 4 am and work late at night.
- Usha Mehta has been teaching at Wilson College, Mumbai for thirty years.
In 1996, Usha Mehta spoke at a conference
- Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic slogan was “Do or Die”. On August 8, 1942, he delivered a speech, “We must either liberate India or die”, prompting Usha Mehta to rebel against British rule in India.
- According to multiple media reports, Indian film director and producer Karan Johar will produce a biopic about Usha Mehta.
- In her later years, Usha Mehta was shocked by the growing corruption in India. In a conversation with Better India media, she said,
Did our great leaders sacrifice their lives for such an India? Sadly, the new generation of political activists and leaders has little respect for Gandhi’s ideas, chief among them non-violence. If we don’t correct ourselves, we may find ourselves right back where we started. “
- Once, Usha Mehta was spotted attending an event as the chief guest.
Usha Mehta attended the event as the chief guest
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education