The great Indian freedom fighter (Neera Arya) killed his husband

Here's a portrait of Neera Arya—an inspiring yet oft-overlooked hero of India’s freedom struggle.

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Neera Arya: First Woman Spy of the Azad Hind Fauj

Early Life

• Born on 5 March 1902 in Khekra Nagar, Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, into an affluent Arya Samaj family. She and her brother received formal education in Kolkata, fostering her nationalist leanings. 

• Married Srikant Jai Ranjan Das, a British Army officer and CID inspector. Their opposing loyalties quickly became a point of tension. 

Unbreakable Resolve

• In prison, she withstood relentless interrogation and torture. Despite offers of freedom in exchange for betraying her comrades or revealing Bose’s whereabouts, she remained silent. 

• Reports recount the brutal mutilation she endured—her breasts were cut off—yet she refused to divulge secrets. 

Spymaster for the INA

• Deeply impressed, Netaji appointed her as the INA’s first female spy. Disguised as boys, she and fellow operatives—such as Saraswati Rajamani—spied on British officers’ homes and camps, gathering critical intelligence. 

As she wrote:
“I had a girl Saraswati Rajamani with me … We adopted boys’ costumes. We spied on the homes of British officers and military camps. We used to share the information… with Netaji.” 

Life After Freedom: A Forgotten Hero

• After India’s independence, Neera Arya lived in anonymity and poverty. She sold flowers in Hyderabad’s Falaknuma area and earned little recognition for her sacrifices. 

• She passed away on 26 July 1998 at Osmania Hospital, near Charminar, Hyderabad. 

Legacy & Recognition

• Her life story is finally being honored: Kannada filmmaker Roopa Iyer is directing a biopic titled Neera Arya—her Bollywood debut—which aims to immortalize the valor of this unsung heroine. 

• Her story is a poignant reminder of the countless silent warriors who sacrificed everything for freedom yet went unrecognized for decades.

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Reflections from Online Narratives

On platforms like Reddit, users highlight how astonishing—and tragic—her story is:

“Neera’s enduring legacy … her loyalty to the cause and refusal to compromise under duress serves as an inspiring example…” 
“TIL of Neera Arya … whose breasts were cut in Kalapani … imprisoned for murdering her British officer CID husband to save Netaji’s life

Why neera Arya killed his husband

• When her husband plotted against Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, following her during a secret meeting and opening fire—tragically killing Bose’s driver—Neera intervened and fatally stabbed him to save Netaji. This act led to her arrest and imprisonment in the British-run Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) in the Andamans. 

• Neera Arya killed her husband because he was trying to assassinate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whom she deeply admired and had dedicated her life to protecting.

  Here’s the context:

  • Neera Arya was married to Srikant Jai Ranjan Das, a CID officer in the British Army. He was loyal to the British and tasked with tracking and stopping freedom fighters.

  • Neera, on the other hand, was a patriot and a member of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA).

  • When her husband learned about a secret meeting involving Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, he tried to follow and capture/kill him.

  • During this attempt, her husband opened fire, killing Bose’s driver and aiming to attack Netaji next.

  • In that moment, Neera Arya intervened and stabbed her husband to death to save Netaji’s life.

  👉 So, she chose her duty to the nation over her personal relationship, believing that protecting Netaji and the freedom struggle was far greater than loyalty to a husband serving the colonial rulers.

  Would you like me to also explain what happened to her after she killed him?

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