Usha Mehta: The Formative Years
Usha Mehta was born on 25th March 1920, in Saras Village, Gujarat. She got her first glimpse into the freedom struggle when she was five, during a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram in Ahmedabad.
At the tender age of eight, she began actively participating in the Indian freedom struggle. Her first significant protest was against the Simon Commission in 1928.
Despite her father's role as a judge under the British authorities, Usha Mehta remained steadfast in her commitment to the struggle. When her family relocated to Mumbai in 1932, she became even more involved in the movement. She engaged in activities like distributing clandestine bulletins, publications, and delivering messages to jailed leaders.
In 1939, she graduated from Wilson College in Bombay. However, her pursuit of a law degree was put on hold when she joined the Quit India movement in 1942. Around this time, she also embraced Gandhian philosophy, adopting a Spartan lifestyle and renouncing all luxuries.
Usha Mehta’s Contribution to the Freedom Struggle
The Indian National Congress announced the Quit India movement on December 28, 1885 , with the movement commencing on 9th August 1942. The British authorities attempted to thwart the movement by arresting all the leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi. However, junior leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali pushed forward with the event, marking the beginning of the Quit India movement by hoisting the national flag at Gowalia Tank ground.
Usha Mehta and her close associates began the underground Congress Radio on 14th August 1942. The radio station started broadcasting on 27th August, sharing messages from Gandhi and other prominent leaders of the freedom movement across India. Despite the British authorities' attempts to shut it down, the Congress Radio managed to evade detection by changing its location daily. However, on 12th November 1942, the authorities located and arrested all the organisers, including Usha Mehta.
Usha Mehta was held in solitary confinement, but she remained resolute, refusing to betray the movement. During her trial, she chose to remain silent, not even responding to questions that could have potentially lessened her sentence. She was sentenced to four years in Yervada Jail in Pune and was released in 1946.
The Congress Radio played a pivotal role in the independence struggle by disseminating uncensored news and information that the colonial authorities had banned. Within three months of its establishment, the Congress Radio had become a significant thorn in the side of the British.
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Usha Mehta’s Life Post-Independence
After India gained independence, Usha Mehta dedicated herself to promoting Gandhian thought and philosophy. She wrote numerous articles, essays, and books in English and Gujarati. The Government of India celebrated her contributions during India’s 50th anniversary of freedom.
In recognition of her service to the nation, she was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1998, the second-highest civilian award of India.
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Despite her declining health, Usha Mehta participated in the celebrations marking the anniversary of the Quit India Movement in August 2000. She passed away on 11th August 2000, at the age of 80. She was survived by her elder brother and three nephews.
Usha Mehta's role in the Congress Radio continues to be remembered for its crucial role in sustaining the movement against all odds.
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