Media messages and the freedom struggle of India

The freedom struggle of India is rich reservoirs of the contributions made by the known and lesser know in a poignant struggle, which marked passion, valor, and a strong resolve in gaining independence. The participation enveloped people from all contexts and regions. This struggle brought men, women, students, and children together, who got, immortalised in the pages of history through their zealous engagements in different movements. The 1942 Quit India Movement, popularly known as the August Kranti had leaders and persons who became part of the struggle in India and abroad. It had brought into its fold, many eminent men and women, who adopted different methods in working towards the attainment of swaraj. In this regard, Subhash Chandra Bose took an initiative, in mobilizing women from all walks of life and age groups. He formed a women’s regiment that was led by women, designed solely to take an active part in the forthcoming combat against the British. This method of forming a women’s regiment was very unique in our freedom struggle. This women's regiment took an active part in transmitting messages with the help of the radio. The themes on which woman spoke on the radio was related to patriotism and their daily routine as soldiers, training for taking an active part in fighting the British. Radio as assistive technology was been increasingly used by both men and women from inside and outside India. Even though the operators were different, the commonality was the cause they stood for i.e. Swaraj. The present paper would discuss the use of this technology particularly by women of the Rani Jhansi Regiment and the one being operated from within the country.