Congress Radio

Congress Radio was a clandestine and underground radio station, which operated for about three months during the Quit India Movement of 1942, a movement launched by Gandhi against the British Raj for independence of India. Congress Radio was the broadcasting mouthpiece of the Indian National Congress, and functioned from different locations from Bombay, currently known as Mumbai. It was organized by Usha Mehta (1920–2000), a veteran freedom fighter of India with the help of ham radio operators. Her other associates for organizing the Congress Radio included Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Babubhai Thakkar. The technicians and the equipments were supplied by Nanak Motawani of Chicago Radio, Mumbai. Eminent personalities like Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutrao Patwardhan, and Purushottam Trikamdas were also associated with the Congress Radio.

On 14 August 1942, within a week of launching of the Quit India Movement, the Secret Congress Radio, went on air, with Dr. Usha Mehata herself broadcasting this announcement:
"This is the Congress Radio calling on (a wavelength of) 42.34 meters from somewhere in India."

See also

• Amateur radio in India

References

• India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women (ISBN 81-88086-19-3) by Indra Gupta

External links

• Programs of Congress Radio, see 'Records and Audio Tapes'
• Article on Congress Radio
• http://www.clandestineradio.com/intel/station.php?id=84&stn=237 Audio File