Neera Arya: The fearless first woman spy of Indian National Army gets her biopic

Amid India’s fight for independence, many heroes stand out for their contributions. Among them is Neera Arya, widely recognized as the first female spy in the Indian National Army. More than seventy years on, Neera Arya’s courageous story of selfless dedication to the nation is finally coming to light through a biographical film directed by Kannada filmmaker Roopa Iyer.Early Life and EducationNeera Arya was born on March 5, 1902, in Khekra Nagar, Baghpat district, into a prominent family. Her father, Seth Chhajjumal, a well-known businessman, ensured that Neera and her brother Basant received their education in Kolkata. From an early age, Neera showed a strong passion for her country’s well-being and, after finishing school, enlisted as a soldier in the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj.Marriage and ConflictHer father married her to Srikant Jai Ranjan Das, a British Army officer and CID Inspector. They had different beliefs, which caused problems. When Srikant found out Neera was part of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s army, he tried to get information from her. Neera refused to tell him. One day, Srikant followed Neera while she was meeting Bose and fired a gun, hitting Bose’s driver. She quickly acted and killed Srikant to protect Bose. Because of this, the British sent her to prison in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But she never stopped loving and fighting for her country.Imprisonment and TortureDuring her imprisonment, Neera was offered bail if she revealed information about the Indian National Congress leaders, especially Subhash Chandra Bose. However, she refused and even spat at a prison guard. Historical accounts state that, as punishment for her silence, her breasts were cut off. Despite this brutal torture, Neera remained steadfastly loyal to the nation and was honored by Bose himself as the first woman spy of the Azad Hind Fauj.The Upcoming BiopicRoopa Iyer is set to debut in Bollywood both as an actress and director with this biographical film. The screenplay is penned by Varun Gautham, a National Award-winning writer.