India Independence Day: The surprising DIY tech that powered India’s freedom

This Congress Radio station case, as it was called, remains an “important chapter in the history of India’s freedom struggle,” according to Usha Thakkar, who has written a book on it. Nanik Motwane was picked up for allegedly helping the station with equipment and technical assistance. Interestingly, Chicago Radio was not on the police’s radar “despite its proximity to the freedom movement”. British officials would often go to Nanik Motwane to buy police wireless equipment and their books appeared to be in order. Motwane told the police that he was not a member of the Congress. No evidence was found, and he was freed. “He was in jail for a month and tortured,” says Kiran Motwane. “It’s true that he was helping the underground police station”.