These photographs document damage done to government property by supporters of the Quit India movement in 1942. The buildings depicted include a civil court building, a fire brigade station and a goods warehouse, all of which are clearly fire-damaged and vandalised. 

These targeted acts of vandalism were committed as part of the Quit India movement, a mass civil disobedience movement whose purpose was to drive the British out of India in order to achieve independence.

In 1939 Britain peremptorily announced that India was at war with Germany. Having not been consulted about this, the Indian National Congress offered conditional support for the war effort in exchange for independence, but the Congress and Britain could not come to an agreement. On 8 August 1942 Congress launched the Quit India movement and encouraged non-violent civil disobedience until independence was granted. The next day many Congress leaders were arrested. In response, protesters led demonstrations throughout India that often became violent, which in turn led to over 100,000 people being imprisoned.

About the India Office Records

The India Office Records is a vast collection of archives relating to the administration of the East India Company (1600–1858) and its successor the India Office (1858–1947). The collection includes hundreds of official publications and records, manuscripts, photographs, maps and private papers. These archives document the complex story of British trade with the East, politics, the development of the British Empire and the road to Indian independence.