Congress Radio: Usha Mehta and the Underground Radio Station of 1942

329 Pages·2021·2.793 MB·English

by  Usha Thakkar

USHA THAKKAR

CONGRESS RADIO
Usha Mehta and the Underground Radio Station of 1942
PENGUIN BOOKS
Contents
Foreword
1. Simmering Times in Bombay
2. A Trailblazing Adventure
3. Arrests and Institution of the Case
4. The Accused and the Trial
5. Broadcasts from the Congress Radio
6. Diverse Perspectives
Afterword
Appendix I: Judgment
Appendix II: Ushaben’s Reminiscences
Footnotes
4. The Accused and the Trial
Appendix I: Judgment
References
Bibliography
Image Copyright Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Follow Penguin
Copyright
Advance Praise for the Book
The underground Congress Radio played a small but significant part
in India’s struggle for independence, and Usha Mehta was at its
centre. Sadly the story of her involvement, activities, arrest, trial and
conviction has so far not been told. This finely structured and
affectionately written book, based on probing questions, detailed
knowledge of Mumbai and deep understanding of Usha Mehta more
than fills the gap. Having myself known Ushaben closely for over
forty years, I can say with confidence that the book presents an
image of her that is as true to reality as any image can be.
—Bhikhu Parekh, House of Lords, UK
This book on the Congress Radio of 1942 is a thrilling and moving
account of how a daring underground operation was conceived and
carried out, and of how it was busted by the colonial police. It is
meticulously researched, drawing on a wide range of primary
sources. At the centre of the story is the remarkable figure of Usha
Mehta, a slight, slender, twenty-two-year-old freedom fighter of
exemplary courage and resolution. The book deserves a wide
readership, within and beyond the academy.
—Ramachandra Guha,
author of Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, 1914-1948
To Usha Mehta and all her colleagues in the Congress Radio who
endeavoured to spread the message of freedom
Foreword
The story of the underground Congress Radio is a fascinating but yet
to be explored segment of history that demands attention because of
the integral role it played in India’s freedom struggle. It is the story of
a zealous group of young patriots who operated the Congress Radio,
passionately propagating the message of freedom and disseminating
information about the struggle against the coercive rule of the British
government. The account of their enterprise is both compelling and
inspiring, for not only did they make history within a brief span of
time, but they also transmitted reliable news to the people,
generating confidence among them and unnerving the British.
Equally impressive was the power of the Radio to kindle the flame of
freedom in the hearts of its listeners and inspire them during those
bleak and difficult times. At the same time, it communicated to the
youth the immense value of ideals and dreams and how significant
voluntary and arduous efforts were to make these seemingly
impossible dreams a reality.
The contribution of the courageous and empathetic Professor
Usha Mehta (Ushaben), the only woman in the group, is particularly
important. Born on 25 March 1920 at Saras village in the Surat
district of Gujarat, she grew up to be a bright student in Bombay
(now Mumbai) and carved a niche for herself as a freedom fighter in
India’s history. Despite being awarded the prestigious Padma
Vibhushan by the government of India and known as a scholar of
eminence, she never lost touch with people at the grassroots level.
She had imbibed Gandhian values early in her life: her friends and
well-wishers were charmed by her simplicity, humility and warm-
heartedness. Her contribution to the operation of the underground
Congress Radio in 1942 was exceptional.
‘The times of 1942 were exhilarating; those days were so
wonderful! How do I describe them?’ Ushaben said, her tiny frame
erect, her hair neatly tied in a bun and her large shining eyes
overwhelmed by memories of those electrifying days. Recapturing
the quintessence of those times she murmured her favourite lines
from William Wordsworth:
Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive
But to be young was very heaven.
* * *
I would often ask Ushaben about her participation in the operation of
the underground Congress Radio. On many afternoons we would
have cups of hot milky chai (Mumbai’s mounting temperature and
humidity never interfered with our routine of having tea in the
afternoon) and biscuits. Years of imprisonment had blunted her
appetite, and she survived mainly on two or three cups of tea and/or
coffee and a few eatables limited to some biscuits, Cheeslings or
khakhra (Gujarati cracker). A string of questions would come
gushing to my mind: How did the Congress Radio come into
existence? Who operated it? Where? How? Who helped? What did it
broadcast? How long did it last? How were the operators arrested?
How was the case conducted? What was the incriminating evidence
against them? What was the judgment? In hindsight, the idea of
operating an underground radio in the troubled India of 1942 is
indeed adventurous and exciting. But how was it made possible?
Who were the doers and where? Many pieces of this jigsaw puzzle
needed to be put together—the actual operation which lasted for
almost two and a half months, the management of regular
programmes, the content of the written reports and the records, and
the places for operation, etc. Often, during our discussions, Ushaben
in her characteristic manner would say, ‘Oh, yes, those were the
days! People braved through!’ Or ‘Oh, you were not fortunate like us.
You did not live in our times to take part in the freedom struggle.’ I
would nod my head saying, ‘Yes, but we are at least fortunate to
have a person like you amidst us,’ and would continue to urge her to
talk about the days of 1942. And she would talk, becoming nostalgic
about those days filled with the romance of nationalism and fired by
the spirit of patriotism.
One day, she casually showed me a bunch of carefully preserved
files, consisting of papers, neatly wrapped in old newspapers, and
asked, ‘Would you like to see these?’ I eagerly took the bundle in my
hands and slowly opened it. The reading and re-reading of those
precious papers at my own easy pace transposed me to the times
when the atmosphere reverberated with Gandhi’s mantra of ‘Do or
Die’, and when the nation’s freedom was of utmost importance for
many, such as this group running the Congress Radio. The amber
hidden in those pages that had faded with the passage of time had
not lost its fire. Unfortunately, Ushaben passed away soon thereafter
and I was left with those precious documents and even more
precious memories. Juxtaposing the contents of those pages with
the ones I had collected from the archives and Ushaben’s narrations
have helped me to put the pieces of this narrative together. Slowly
the story, exciting and real, vibrant and intense, unfolded, giving
glimpses of the defiant mood of the freedom fighters and the bold
resolve of the team that was involved in the operation of the
Congress Radio.
Glimpses of the roles played by persons like Ushaben in 1942
makes us realize that the Quit India movement is a chapter in our
history brimming with sacrifice and the suffering of people
determined to achieve independence. The chronicle of the
movement is stirring and gripping—much had taken place, much has
been written about it, and a few things still remain partly hidden,
elusive but alluring.
As the story unfolded, I realized that though situated in Bombay,
the Congress Radio reverberated far beyond the city’s shores; it
inspired freedom lovers in various parts of the country. A re-
exploration of the working of the Congress Radio is both educating
and energizing; it is like a fresh breeze blowing the ideals of freedom
and selfless work into our uneasy and despondent times.