The Untold Story of Neera Arya: India's First Female Spy

Neera Arya: A Legacy of Bravery

In the realm of fictional narratives like Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the character Hamza Mazari captivates audiences, yet the true stories of spies like Neera Arya, the first female operative of the Indian National Army (INA), are equally compelling. Neera faced unimaginable hardships at the hands of the British but remained steadfast in her mission. In a tragic turn of events, she was compelled to kill her husband, who had been tasked with assassinating her commander, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Reports indicate that the torture she endured was so severe that it included mutilation.

Born on March 5, 1902, to Lakshmi Devi and Mahavir Singh, Neera was later adopted by Seth Chaudhary Chhajuram Lamba after her parents' demise. She received her education in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and exhibited a strong sense of nationalism from a young age, aspiring to liberate her country from colonial oppression. After completing her studies, she wed Shrikant Jairanjan Das, an officer in British India, but their differing beliefs about India's freedom led to marital discord.

Eventually, Neera enlisted in the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj, also recognized as the Indian National Army. According to the Ministry of Culture's Amrit Kaal website, this regiment was established to combat British rule in India and was one of the few all-female combat units during World War II. It was formed in July 1943, led by Lakshmi Sahgal, and comprised volunteers from the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia.

Neera's husband, working for the British, was ordered to spy on Bose and eliminate him. Aware of Neera's involvement with the regiment, he began tracking her. During a meeting with Bose, Shrikant opened fire, but Bose managed to escape, although his driver was hit. In a desperate act, Neera fatally stabbed her husband. Bose reportedly nicknamed her "Naura Nagini" for her actions.

Following this incident, Neera surrendered to the British and was sentenced to Saza-e-Kalapani, leading to her imprisonment in the notorious Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. She chronicled her harrowing experiences in her autobiography, Mera Jeevan Mera Sangharsh. The conditions in prison were deplorable; she was confined to a small, dark cell with no sanitation and was forced to drink contaminated water. Despite being a vegetarian, she was coerced into consuming meat. During interrogations, when officials sought information about Bose, she defiantly spat at an officer, resulting in brutal retaliation where her breasts were mutilated. Remarkably, Neera never divulged any secrets.

After India's independence, she was released from prison and reportedly spent her later years selling flowers. Neera Arya passed away on July 26, 1998, in Hyderabad at Osmania Hospital, having lived her final years in poverty.