Buckinghampshire 1943
The sound of thick, marching boots broke the silence of the night. The melancholic air hung heavily over the surroundings suffocating every living being in vicinity. There wasn’t a breathing soul out on the streets.
Noor slithered through the narrow alleys like a snake eager to avoid prying eyes of her hunters. Her movements weren’t panicky though. In fact, she was used to being hunted. She made a hasty yet steady retreat, away from the mean, uncompromising Nazi soldiers who threatened to uncover her hiding place.
Breathing heavily, she climbed the narrow staircase to her one-room apartment in Roshue street. She was used to working in the dark and this day was no different.
“La lune est rouge”, she spoke urgently into the radio transmitter, which could be deciphered as ‘The moon is red’, a coded message to convey that danger was lurking near.
“Le renard change de tanière.” a sharp voice answered immediately which meant that she should change her location with immediate effect.
Noor quickly gathered her meagre belongings and shoved them into her tattered suitcase. She ripped apart the wiring of the radio transmitter in her hurry to get away. She had almost made it to the door when she remembered her prized possession, the only hobby she continued to indulge in- her harp. Stopping for a minute, she tenderly struck a chord. Though she hardly played it while in hiding, music evoked a sense of belonging and nostalgia in twenty-nine -year -old Noor Inayat Khan, a Britisher of Indian descent and one of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the war against the Nazi-occupied Europe.
Suresnes 1920
Soulful Sufi music reverberated through the thin walls of their humble home. Almost all kinds of musical instruments-the Veena, the harp and the piano decorated every room.
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Noor’s father, a prince, a Sufi saint and a preacher held musical meetings with a number of ‘Mureeds’, (Sufi initiates). He gave lectures about Sufism as an universal ideal as well as courses for candidates applying to different universities. In his free time, which was rare considering his extensive travels to London, France and Russia, he taught his children especially Noor, the values of independence, sacrifice, patriotism and righteousness.
Noor, then a seven-year old, took her siblings, Hidayat, Vilayat and Claire under her care as her parents travelled for concerts and Inayat khan continued his efforts to spread Sufism across the world.
“Hidayat, always listen to Abbu and Ammi. Your fame will precede you in whatever you do.” Little Hidayat gave a toothless smile as if he to say he knew what she preached beforehand.
Ameena Begum, their mother, who changed her American name, Ora Ray Baker, after marriage was a theatre artist and musician herself.
“You look beautiful in a saree, jaan, though you can wear a western outfit if you so wish.” Hazrat whispered in his wife’s ears as he hugged her lovingly.
“That’s ok. I am happy to follow your tradition. It gives me a sense of belonging.” Ameena never seemed to mind the simple changes in her life.
Noor learnt to play the Veena from a very young age. She enjoyed the immersive discussions on music and religion that took place in her home. Her father’s chest swelled with pride when he saw Noor. She yearned for her parents when they were away. Noor grew up from being a shy, dreamy child to a mature, fiercely independent young woman.
I must do something big. I know God has something special for me.
Her commitments grew bigger and stronger when Hazrat Inayat Khan died in the year 1927. She stared wistfully at the his musical instruments and the desolate meeting rooms in her home. She missed sharing her thoughts and ideologies with her intelligent Abbu, her friend and guide. But days of grieving were short-lived. She decided to help her mother manage the dwindling finances and other siblings by doing what she liked best- composing music for theatre and at the same time, sharpening her music skills in Sorbonne.
“Noor, you can find an alternate profession, something other than music which you like best,” Nadia, her mentor counselled her one day when she expressed her struggle to find an identity and help the family.
“It would please me if I could do something for the country, Nadia, but I will have to wait till Hidayat grows up to help Ammi.”
Nadia couldn’t help admiring Noor’s foresight and prudent nature. Noor took up a career as a writer publishing her poetry and stories for children in English and French and becoming a regular contributor to children’s magazines and French radio. She published her first book, ‘Twenty Jataka tales’ in 1939.
Southampton 1940
The once cerulean skies were now streaked crimson. Sharp sounds of sirens and weapons cut through the serene air. World War II had begun in Europe as Nazi Germany controlled most of Europe. Hitler’s word became the highest law and a new reign of dictatorship was unleashed in Europe and Britian. Germans were considered to be the highest race and others, like the Jews, Romans, Slavs who refused to work under this racist and totalitarian dictatorship were tortured and murdered by the Nazis.
Many families were sent to the concentration camps where they were subjected to the most inhumane treatment which killed and maimed lakhs of countrymen. Tears of millions fueled the fire of retaliation against the racist regime.
Noor’s family life too turned turbulent. Ameena didn’t want to put all their lives in danger. They fled from France and stayed in Southampton which was about eighty miles from London.
One day, while taking a walk around the Brisbun park close to their home, Noor said to Vilayat, “I wish to help the Allied Forces fight this war. I hope they don’t discriminate the people of Indian descent and accept my plea to join the army.”
“No, Noor. It is quite dangerous. Ammi will never be at peace.”
Vilayat said softly but was taken aback by the fierce conviction in her voice. He rested his arguments later.
“I will be a distinguished warrior, Vilayat. Imagine what a proud moment it will be for our family. I can’t be singing or writing the whole time.” Noor stood her ground.
Noor moved one step closer to prove that she was the descendant of the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, Tipu Sultan when she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and was sent to be trained as a wireless operator. Her sharp observation skills and commitment helped her learn the ropes quickly and soon Noor was posted as the Special Operations Executive (SOE) of the France section in early 1943.
Mr. Wayner, the Director Of Air Intelligence, where she was posted congratulated her as she was to leave for Buckinghamshire, for special training as one of the first wireless operators in the occupied territory.
“Noor, you will work under the name Madeline for British in France. Till now, our female agents have acted as couriers. I assume your training will not take much time, which it would better be, as you have tried wireless telegraphy before.”
The hidden rainbow of dreams is now unveiling all its colours. If I play it right, I shall be the name to reckon with, living or dead. I will play my part in wiping out dictatorship and racism.
Her head held high, Noor went ahead with the high-risk task awarded to her. Before she could embark on her journey as a solo operator, she was one day captured by few soldiers who spoke fluent French and German.
After a few hours, she was dragged to a dark cell, her hands tied. They fired a barrage of questions about her accomplices and secret mission of WAAF. Later, she was left alone, starving, in an ice-cubicle.
She assumed that her mission had ended before it began. Next day, when the frozen muscles in her ears twitched and she slowly came to life she heard a voice, “She is so shy, Ron. Somehow I see her as an excessively emotional creature. And she can get easily swayed by overtures of friendship and kindness. This will work against her job as a secret agent.”
She knew then that she had been tested by subjecting her to a fake Gestapo interrogation. This made her understand what she might be facing if caught while on duty.
She continued to face criticisms and her small physical stature was jeered by others. The higher-ups thought that she was physically unfit to escape quickly from difficult situations and might spill the beans on being caught.
Despite it all, Noor’s passion shone through the gray clouds of doubt and derision, an indomitable ray of light that heralded freedom and victory from the hated war.
Buckinghampshire 1943
Noor or Madeline, as she was christened, probably never had an inkling of the bumpy roads and hairpin bends that lay ahead of her.
Atkins told Noor, “We can transfer you to some other operations, not as risky as this one. This will not affect your credibility. But you can’t let your comrades down by any single mistake which may prove to be deadly.”
But Noor was adamant that she wanted to go. She insisted that she was competent for the work. The roadblock she found difficult to cross was to leave her widowed mother who never had an inkling of all this.
“Ammi, I am going to Africa to find work. I know you can’t work under these circumstances. Promise me you will stay strong till I come back.” She hugged her tight.
Ameena could feel Noor’s apprehensions but she never questioned her decision.
Vera Atkins assured her that she would keep in touch with her family. Noor extracted a promise that she would convey only ‘positive news’ to her family.
Noor was flown to Paris where she was met by a ‘reception committee’ consisting of other SOE agents and helpers. Fake papers were made in her name as Jeanne-Marie Renier, a child nurse. She stayed with an affluent family of four and took care of their one-year old child. Her fluent French hardly raised an eyebrow and things seemed to go smoothly. She proved to be competent as a wireless operator under the pseudonym, ‘Nurse’. Her link was Emile Garry or ‘Cinema’ as she was referred to.
In June 1943, her network ‘Prosper’ was rounded off by Germans. Many of the SOE’s were captured. With her radio transmitter hidden in a suitcase, she dodged the Gestapo, sending coded messages back to London. She knew that discovery meant death, yet she refused to abandon her mission. For three months, she was the last radio link between France and the Allies.
One day she spoke into the wireless transmitter as she was being relentlessly hunted in various locations.
“”Le renard a changé de tanière.” (The safehouse is compromised)
The voice at the other end sounded restless and anguished, “Le tonnerre approche. Les oiseaux quittent le nid ce soir.” (The Gestapo is moving fast. Everyone must evacuate tonight.)
“Je serai l’ombre sous le pont.” (I will stay and fight from the shadows)
“Le message sera livré.” (The mission must succeed even if I don’t)
Noor never knew where she would be the next day. While others basked in pure sunlight, the long, dark shadows were her friend and protector. She lived in hiding for as long as she could so that others could roam free. The once shy conversations changed to bold dialogues exchanged in whispers, commanding, reassuring and guiding several other agents till each one was captured by the Gestapo. Her confidence guarded and pushed her to perform unthinkable acts of wisdom and courage. The officers who criticized her not so long ago looked up to the young lady in awe.
She changed locations, altered her appearance, but they finally captured her after being betrayed by one of her own agents. In prison, Noor refused to reveal anything. Despite brutal interrogations, she did not break.
“She’s highly dangerous and must be done away with,” said an officer who shackled her hands and feet before throwing her into prison.
In September 1944, she was taken to Dachau concentration camp and awarded a death sentence with four other prisoners.
On a cold night, Noor’s last words as she was shot through her neck was “Liberté.”
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Glossary:
Ammi and Abbu – Mother and Father, in Urdu.
Disclaimer: This is a semi-fictional narrative in honour of the unsung patriot, Noor Inayat Khan or Nora Baker who was a British resistance agent in France. She was also a Muslim princess, a writer, theatre artist and a musician. The details included, though well-researched, are written to justify short-story writing rules as needed and not twist or change facts.