Usha Mehta was a Gandhian and freedom fighter of India.
20 Facts About Usha Mehta
2.
Usha Mehta is remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942.
3.
Usha Mehta was born in Saras, a village near Surat in modern-day Gujarat.
4.
When she was just five years old, Usha Mehta first saw Gandhi while on a visit to his ashram at Ahmedabad.
5.
Shortly afterwards, Gandhi arranged a camp near her village in which little Usha Mehta participated, attending sessions and doing a little spinning.
6.
Usha Mehta therefore did not encourage her to participate in the freedom struggle.
7.
In 1932, when Usha Mehta was 12, her family moved to Bombay, making it possible for her to participate more actively in the freedom movement.
8.
Usha Mehta grew up highly influenced by Gandhi and became one of his followers.
9.
Usha Mehta made an early decision to remain celibate for life and took up a spartan, Gandhian lifestyle, wearing only Khadi clothes and keeping away from luxuries of all types.
10.
Usha Mehta continued her education at Wilson College, Bombay, graduating in 1939 with a first-class degree in philosophy.
11.
Usha Mehta began studying law, but ended her studies in 1942 to join the Quit India Movement.
12.
Usha Mehta's health deteriorated and she was sent to Bombay for treatment at Sir JJ Hospital.
13.
The day India gained independence, Usha Mehta was confined to bed and could not attend the official function in New Delhi.
14.
Usha Mehta later re-commenced her education and wrote a doctoral dissertation on the political and social thought of Gandhi, earning a PhD from the University of Bombay.
15.
Usha Mehta had a long association with Mumbai university in many capacities: as a student, as a research assistant, as a lecturer, a professor, and finally as the head of the department of civics and politics.
16.
Usha Mehta retired from the University of Bombay in 1980.
17.
Usha Mehta was elected the president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, a trust dedicated to the preservation of Gandhian heritage.
18.
Usha Mehta was the president of Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi.
19.
Usha Mehta actively participated in the affairs of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
20.
One of her nephews, Ketan Usha Mehta, a noted Bollywood filmmaker.