Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Neera Arya: India's First Woman Spy Who Defied British Empire
A very long time ago, Britain ruled India.
Many Indian men and women fought to make India free.
Neera Arya was a woman who helped in this fight.
She is called India's first woman spy.
She worked with the Indian National Army, a group led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
She was in a special all-women group called the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
Instead of carrying a gun, she carried secret messages hidden in everyday objects and watched where British soldiers were going.
Her husband worked for the British police and tried to give away her leader's location, so she chose her country over her marriage.
When the British caught her, they hurt her and locked her up, but she never told any secrets.
That is why people remember her as a silent soldier of the freedom struggle.
Neera Arya is recognized as India's first woman spy, serving in the Indian National Army's intelligence wing during World War II.
She was a member of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the INA's all-women force that played a key role in India's freedom struggle.
Her covert duties included carrying coded messages hidden in ordinary objects and collecting intelligence on British troop movements.
When her husband, a British CID officer, tried to expose Netaji's location, she chose her country over her marriage.
Despite being beaten, starved, and kept in solitary confinement, she refused to reveal INA secrets even under severe torture.
- Who
- Neera Arya, India's first woman spy, who served in the Indian National Army (INA) under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
- What
- Carried out covert intelligence missions, including delivering coded messages, collecting intelligence on British troop movements, and warning the INA of potential threats.
- When
- During World War II, while the INA operated in India's freedom struggle.
- Where
- India, during the British colonial era.
- Why
- To support India's freedom struggle and protect Netaji's movements from the British.
- Person
- Neera Arya
- Recognition
- India's first woman spy
- Organization
- Indian National Army (INA) intelligence wing
- Unit
- Rani of Jhansi Regiment (all-women force)
- Period
- World War II
- Spouse
- British CID officer who tried to expose Netaji's location
- Treatment
- Beaten, starved, solitary confinement; refused to reveal secrets under torture
- Legacy
- Remembered as a 'silent soldier of the freedom struggle'