Usha Mehta
Born 25 March 1920 · Maharashtra
Died 11 August 2000
Organized the Secret Congress Radio during the 1942 Quit India Movement.
🔔 Add birthday reminderUsha Mehta was a Gandhian and independence activist of India. She is also remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, also called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for a 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.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Usha Mehta’s Congress Radio moved locations 6-7 times in three months to evade British police in 1942, yet continued broadcasting patriotic programs daily.
1. In August 1942, just days after Gandhi's Quit India speech, 22-year-old Usha Mehta launched the clandestine Congress Radio from Bombay, broadcasting patriotic messages despite British attempts to silence dissent.
2. 🌟 At age 8 in 1928, Usha led protest marches against the Simon Commission, famously shouting "Simon Go Back," showcasing her early defiance against colonial rule.
3. After her father retired as a judge in 1933, her family moved to Bombay, enabling her to distribute secret bulletins and visit imprisoned freedom fighters, deepening her involvement in the independence movement.
4. The secret radio broadcasts, starting once a day then increasing to twice daily, reached diverse audiences with tailored programs for students, women, and workers, often evading police by relocating 6-7 times in three months.
5. 🎙️ On November 12, 1942, police raided the radio hideout, but Usha managed a final broadcast, playing "Vande Mataram" even as officers broke down the door, refusing to halt the transmission.
6. Usha Mehta embraced a lifelong Gandhian lifestyle, committing to celibacy and wearing only Khadi, reflecting her deep personal adherence to the values of nonviolence and self-reliance.
7. In 1998, the Government of India awarded her the Padma Vibhushan, recognizing her underground radio work and enduring dedication to Gandhian principles.
8. ❓ How did a 22-year-old woman manage to operate a secret nationwide radio network under constant threat during the height of British surveillance?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Padma Vibhushan
🔍 One thing most people don't know
At just 8 years old in 1928, Usha Mehta led protests against the Simon Commission, shouting slogans and leading children dressed in the Indian flag colors to defy British police.
🖼️ Through the Years
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📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
"There was no need for any inspiration. The whole atmosphere was so charged that no-one was left untouched."
— Usha Mehta
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Freedom fighter Dr Usha Mehta on Quit India Movement
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Usha Mehta's organization of the underground Congress Radio helped sustain communication and morale during the Quit India Movement, defying British censorship. Her broadcasts inspired parallel resistance efforts and symbolized youth leadership in the independence struggle. The radio's existence highlighted the use of innovative communication tactics against colonial rule and influenced later independent India's embrace of media for democratic engagement.
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