Nariman Printer
Encyclopedia
Nariman Abarbad Printer was an Indian amateur radio operator known for setting up the Congress Radio
.
With the outbreak of World War II
in 1939, the British cancelled the issue of new licences. All amateur radio operators were sent written orders hand over their transmitting equipment to the police, both for possible use in the war effort and to prevent the stations from being surreptitiously used by Axis collaborators and spies. With the Indian independence movement
gaining momentum, Printer, in 1940 set up the Azad Hind Radio
to broadcast Gandhian protest music and uncensored economic news. He was promptly arrested and his equipmient seized. In August 1942, after Mahatma Gandhi
launched the Quit India Movement
, the British began clamping down on Indian freedom fighters and censoring the media. To circumvent media restrictions, Indian National Congress
activists, led by Usha Mehta
contacted Mumbai-based amateur radio operators, "Bob" Tanna
(VU2LK) and Printer to help broadcast messages to grass-root party workers across the country. This became known as the "Congress Radio
", and began broadcasting from 2 September 1942 on 7.12 MHz. The station could be received as far as Japanese
occupied Burma. By November 1942, Printer was caught and decided to help the British.
He is remembered for his call sign VU2FU.
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...
.
With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, the British cancelled the issue of new licences. All amateur radio operators were sent written orders hand over their transmitting equipment to the police, both for possible use in the war effort and to prevent the stations from being surreptitiously used by Axis collaborators and spies. With the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
gaining momentum, Printer, in 1940 set up the Azad Hind Radio
Azad Hind Radio
Azad Hind Radio was a propaganda radio service that was started in leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Germany in 1942 to encourage Indians to fight for freedom. Though initially based in Germany, its headquarters were shifted to Singapore and later Rangoon following the course of the war...
to broadcast Gandhian protest music and uncensored economic news. He was promptly arrested and his equipmient seized. In August 1942, after Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
launched the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
, the British began clamping down on Indian freedom fighters and censoring the media. To circumvent media restrictions, Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
activists, led by Usha Mehta
Usha Mehta
Usha Mehta was a renowned Gandhian and freedom fighter of India. She is also remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, also called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942...
contacted Mumbai-based amateur radio operators, "Bob" Tanna
Bob Tanna
Bhavsinh Moraji "Bob" Tanna was an amateur radio operator who was instrumental in setting up the Congress Radioalong with Nariman Printer on the request of Usha Mehta, an Indian National Congress party leader...
(VU2LK) and Printer to help broadcast messages to grass-root party workers across the country. This became known as the "Congress Radio
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...
", and began broadcasting from 2 September 1942 on 7.12 MHz. The station could be received as far as Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
occupied Burma. By November 1942, Printer was caught and decided to help the British.
He is remembered for his call sign VU2FU.