Question

Try to collect information about the role of underground radio centres in the ‘Quit India’ movement of 1942 with the help of your teachers.

Answer 1

During the Quit India Movement of 1942, the British government banned national newspapers, arrested top leaders, and strictly censored the media. In response, freedom fighters established underground radio stations to keep the public informed and keep the revolution alive.

Here is the key historical information regarding their role:

1. Congress Radio (Azad Hind Radio):
   1. The Founders: A young student leader named Usha Mehta, along with Vitthalbhai Jhaveri, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, and Babubhai Khakar, established the underground station.
   2. First Broadcast: The radio went on air on August 27, 1942, broadcasting from secret locations in Bombay (Mumbai).
   3. The Slogan: It opened with the iconic announcement: “This is the Congress Radio broadcasting on 42.34 meters from somewhere in India.”
2. Evading British Seizure:
   1. Shifting Locations: To avoid detection by British technocrats using direction-finding equipment, the team constantly shifted transmitters across different apartments in Mumbai.
   2. Mobile Setups: They changed locations nearly every week to keep the colonial police searching blindly.
3. Core Functions and Impact:
   1. Spreading Truthful News: The station reported acts of British brutality, mass arrests, and police firings that local newspapers were legally banned from printing.
   2. Boosting Morale: It broadcast patriotic songs (such as Vande Mataram), recorded speeches by Mahatma Gandhi, and strategic messages from underground leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia.
   3. National Network: It successfully united regional protests by collecting news from across India and airing it globally, alerting international communities to India’s struggle.
4. The Shutdown:
   1. Betrayal: In November 1942, a technician betrayed the group’s location to the police.
   2. Arrests: On November 12, 1942, British authorities raided the secret station, seizing the equipment and arresting Usha Mehta and her co-conspirators, who faced harsh imprisonment.