Usha Mehta is famously known for which of the following contributions during the Quit India Movement?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Answer: (2) Organizing the underground radio to broadcast nationalist messages
Explanation:
Usha Mehta was a prominent revolutionary figure in the Indian freedom struggle, known particularly for her indomitable courage during the Quit India Movement of 1942. When all top Congress leaders were arrested on August 9, 1942, under 'Operation Zero Hour,' Usha Mehta launched the 'Secret Congress Radio' to keep the torch of the movement burning.
This was an underground radio station that aired its first broadcast on August 14, 1942. The primary objective of this radio station was to convey the messages of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders to the masses while evading censorship and to disseminate authentic news regarding the movement. Leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Vithalbhai Jhaveri assisted her in this endeavor. The station broadcast on the '42.34-meter' band, and its slogan was: 'This is Congress Radio on 42.34 meters, broadcasting from somewhere in India.' Ultimately, in November 1942, the police apprehended her, and she was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in Pune's Yerwada Jail.
Additional Points:
Armed Struggle: The armed struggle was led primarily by the Azad Hind Fauj (under Subhash Chandra Bose) and various revolutionary groups, rather than directly by Usha Mehta.
First Woman to be Hanged: The distinction of being the first woman executed by the British government for revolutionary activities is often attributed to the sacrifices of Matangini Hazra (a martyr) or Pritilata Waddedar, although the context of who was 'first' can be a subject of debate. Usha Mehta was sentenced to life imprisonment, not death by hanging.
Protests in Bombay: The honor of hoisting the Tricolor at the famous 'Gowalia Tank Maidan' (August Kranti Maidan) in Bombay belongs to Aruna Asaf Ali, who is also referred to as the 'Queen of 1942.
' Probable Questions and Answers for the Examination:
Question: Which female leader was known as the 'Grand Old Lady' during the 'Quit India Movement'?
Answer: Aruna Asaf Ali.
Question: Who was the technical mastermind behind Congress Radio?
Answer: Nariman Printer.
Question: At which location did Gandhiji give the slogan 'Do or Die'?
Answer: Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay.