India’s First Woman Spy: The Untold Story of a Courageous INA Intelligence Heroine

Decades before India established its modern intelligence agencies, a young woman walked through British-controlled streets carrying messages powerful enough to shake an empire. With silence as her weapon and courage as her shield, she became India’s first woman spy — a freedom fighter who chose secrecy over glory and sacrifice over safety.

Her identity remained buried in the shadows for years, but her contributions laid the foundation for covert operations long before intelligence work had an official name.

A Warrior in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment

She served in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA), as a member of the historic Rani of Jhansi Regiment — an all-women combat force that played a pivotal role in the freedom movement. Operating inside the INA’s intelligence wing, she undertook covert missions during World War II, often at great personal risk.

Defying an Empire with Intelligence, Not Weapons

Her strength lay not in arms but in anonymity. Her unassuming presence made her invisible to British surveillance, allowing her to:

• Carry coded messages concealed in everyday objects

• Track British troop movements

• Alert the INA about incoming threats

• Support Netaji’s travel routes through secret communication

• Build a network of informants to aid the movement

Her espionage work became an unseen backbone of the INA’s strategic operations.

A Personal Sacrifice That Defined Her Loyalty

Her patriotism was tested when her own husband, a British CID officer, attempted to expose Netaji’s movements. She chose her country over marriage, severing personal ties to protect the freedom struggle.

Torture, Solitary Confinement, and Unbroken Resolve

Captured by British forces, she endured relentless torture — starvation, assault, and solitary confinement. Despite severe brutality, she never revealed any INA information. Her silence saved countless lives and operations.

Her ordeal continued in the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, where many revolutionaries faced unimaginable suffering. Even there, she remained unwavering, refusing to disclose a single detail about INA activities.

A Legacy India Must Remember

Years before satellites, encrypted devices, or organised intelligence structures, she proved that courage alone could challenge an empire. Her sacrifices remained unacknowledged for decades, but history is now reclaiming her story — not as a forgotten shadow, but as one of the earliest guardians of India’s freedom.

Her legacy stands as a reminder that the foundation of India’s independence was built not only by celebrated leaders but also by silent warriors who remained unseen, unheard, yet unbreakable.