Dr Usha Mehta is a veteran Gandhian who plunged into the freedom movement in her childhood and has devoted her entire life to the cause of the nation. A noted academician, she taught at the Wilson College, Mumbai and Mumbai University for 30 years. She has been a trustee of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi since its inception in 1955 and its president for the past five years. She is also actively associated with Gandhi Peace Foundation, Gujarat Vidyapeeth and SNDT Women's University. In this inerview, second in the series,she talks about her early struggle, days of hardship and determination to keep doing her best for the nation.
The noted Gandhian scholar, Dr. Usha Mehta, was her usual self, cool, calm and collected and engrossed in some research work which she graciously put aside so that she could begin with the interview. Of course a prior appointment had been fixed at Mani Bhavan, as she is still involved in many a activity.
Early Days of Struggle
Reminiscing about those heady days of freedom struggle Dr. Usha Mehta said that the first slogan she shouted against the British was `Simon Go Back'. "That was in 1928 when I was eight years old. We young girls had formed a `Manjar Sena' just as the boys had formed the `Vanar Sena'. We followed our elders who were against the Simon Commission's entry in our country. Though we could hardly understand what it was, we were the front runners in shouting the slogans", she adds.
The whole atmosphere was so charged that no one was left untouched. Therefore, nothing precisely inspired her to take active part in freedom struggle. Moreover, her uncles and aunties were actively involved in the struggle so the home atmosphere contributed a lot to her becoming a part of the movement.
During those days their main activities were taking part in Prabhat Pheris, morchas, picketing and spinning. This was the first time when she came in direct contact with Gandhiji. She was highly impressed by him and there and then took a vow of wearing only khadi and celibacy which she continues till date. She must have been nine years old then. At that very young age, they were keen followers of their elders and were very happy to be a part of freedom struggle.
She also had to face the stiff opposition for joining the freedom struggle as she puts it, "Initially my father was against my joining the movement as he was a judge under the Raj. But once he retired in 1930 and we shifted to Mumbai in 1932, I could fully immerse myself in it. As children our work was to distribute bulletins, make salt from Chowpatty water and sell it in small packets. We used to visit our relatives in jail who were undergoing a lot of hardship. The food given to them was beyond human consumption, full of stones and dirt but they had no alternative. They were all locked inside by 6.00 pm in the evening and had to remain there for nearly 12 hours".
Secret Congress Radio
She showed remarkable courage and determination during the Quit India Movement in 1942, Under her able leadership, an underground radio station for dissemination of news about the Quit India Movement was established in Mumbai within a fortnight of the launching of this historic movement.
By August 1942, Dr. Mehta was on air, her rich voice was tailormade for the radio She was assited by Vithalbai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar and Nanak Motwani, owner of Chicago Radio, who supplied equipment as well as technicians for the transmitters Many eminent leaders including Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutrao Patwardhan and Purushottam Trikamdas also worked for the Congress Radio.
The secret Congrss Radio, as it called itself, gave an account of the underground activity as well as the freedom struggle from northwest province to Bihar and from the foot of the Himalayas to Kanyakumari each morning and evening from somewhere in Mumbai. It had to shift from place to place in the city to evade the police. For about three months, news of the revolution and the recorded voices of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders were beamed across India. The secret radio enterprise was the first of its kind and had a profound effect on its listeners and its adversaries. Because of this heroic endeavour, she and her colleagues were all put behind bars by the British Government.
The Days of Hardship
She was kept in an isolated cell and taken to CID for constant interrogation. This mental torture went on for about six months. A lot of green pastures were shown by the jail authorities such as lure of foreign studies and pursuance of hobbies but they could not succeed. She was the only woman prisoner in that solitary confinement. Despite all the harassment in jail, she kept her cool.
Investigations went on for six months after which a special court was set up. For one and half months they went to the High Court and then were sent to jail. But she had decided not to open her mouth come what may. The judge asked her several questions. And she only said, "Is it compulsory to answer your questions?" The judge said "No." Then she told him that she would not answer any of his questions. Even the High Court judge complimented her for not telling a lie to save herself. "I was ready for any sacrifice for my country. I was imprisoned for four years from 1942-46. I was released in March, 1946 after Morarjibhai's interim government came into power. He passed the first order that I should be released. I was the only woman prisoner in Yeravada Jail, all the other women were released earlier", she recollects.
The Post Independence Era
When asked how she felt when India finally attained independence, she was moved and said "In a way I was very happy but sad at the same time because of partition. It was an independent India but a divided India. Of course we have progressed in science and technology and industrially also. Moreover, we have kept the flag of democracy flying.
There are many areas where we are still lagging behind It is a shame that India will still be an illiterate country even in 2000 A.D. Even today, 40 per cent of our people live below poverty line. The pity is that the division between the rich and the poor is so vast that it seems impossible to bridge the gap. This is not the freedom for which we sacrificed everything we had. Still it is our duty to have faith in our nation, its value and vision. We must have faith in ourselves to do the best for our country".
Exhorting the Youth
She further adds, "The situation at present is grim. I feel sad that there is complete lack of integrity, moral as well as intellectual in most of our leaders which has corroded the whole country. Moral bankruptcy is our biggest bane. There is lack of able leadership. But it is for our youth to accept challenge and go ahead. They should follow the path of honesty, keep our tradition and moral values alive and not be lured by materialistic pleasures offered by the West. It is in our hands to once again revive our lost glory".
In the end with a note of reposing faith in the nation, she said, "I am happy that there is public awareness. It cannot be fooled by false promises. It is good that there is awakening in our people. I have faith in my people and hope that our struggle will not go in vain and India will once again emerge as a country to be proud of."
