Congress Radio , livre ebook

USHA THAKKAR

CONGRESS RADIO
Usha Mehta and the Underground Radio Station of 1942
PENGUIN BOOKS

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.
1
Simmering Times in Bombay
The year 1942 was a tumultuous one, with the passion for freedom reverberating through the nation. But even before 1942, the city of Bombay had begun to simmer with political unrest and movements. The youth of the city, particularly the students, were motivated by the nationalist fervour of the times and had started getting active much before they became immersed in the massive wave of the Quit India movement.
Various meetings of students were organized in the city, posters and information by word of mouth being the most effective means of communication. A poster in 1940 for a meeting is very interesting. 1 This poster by the Bombay Students Union gave a call for a students meeting on 3 December 1940 at Chowpatty to express the solidarity of the student world with the National Liberation Movement . It informed that special tricolour flags were prepared for the occasion, bearing the stirring words of Jawaharlal Nehru: Freedom is in peril. Defend it with all your might. It urged every student to buy a flag and pin it on prominently as a mark of protest. The spirited slogan given here was: Every Student behind the Students Union! Every Union for the Freedom Movement! Inqilab Zindabad!
Recapturing those times Ushaben said, We were drawn to the (Quit India) movement. I had wanted to join the individual satyagraha when Gandhiji announced it. I had even written to him about my desire to do so, but he conveyed that I should complete my studies and serve my parents; he would call me when needed. However, in 1942 there was no question of asking him. We took a plunge into the movement and we were playing our roles the way we understood them. 2 Being a bright student well-versed in politics and philosophy, she could easily find the connection between what was happening in Bombay with the beginnings of the underground Congress Radio.
Political Ferment in Bombay Before the Quit India Call
The city was the stage for political activities and meetings. Since the resolution of Complete Independence passed at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session at Lahore in December 1929, 26 January was celebrated as