Rare photos of Gandhi linked to Quit India Movement on sale

The photographs of Gandhi, dated August 7 show him at an informal indoor gathering on the eve of one of the most momentous days of Indian Independence movement.

It is not known precisely where or at what time of day the rare photographs were taken by photographer Jayant Lalan of Mumbai, who was also responsible for an undated, charming image of the Father of the Nation taking an early morning walk at 'Juhu' Beach, Mumbai supported by two colleagues.

It will go under hammer at Bonhams here on October 5.
The collection, which also includes two photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru, is estimated at 1,000-1,500 pounds.

It was on August 7 that Gandhi addressed the opening day of the historic All India Congress Committee at the Gowalia tank Maidan in Mumbai and launched his call for non-violent protest against British rule.

"I stick to the principle of non-violence as I did before. If you are tired of it then you need not come with me. At the time when I am about to launch the biggest fight in my life there can be no hatred for the British in my heart," the Mahatma said.

On August 8, the Congress overwhelmingly backed the formation of the civil disobedience Quit India movement rallied by the Gandhi's famous cry of "Do or die".

Bonhams India and Beyond sale takes place twice a year and concentrates on historic photographs and documents about Indians and Asia beyond India.

The auction also features an album of very early photographs of important ancient cultural sites in Karnataka by the celebrated photography pioneer, Andrew Neill, estimated to fetch 4,000-6,000 pounds.

Neill was attached to the Indian Medical Service at Chennai and his fame rests largely on his photographs of the Indian Mutiny and his contributions to Ferguson and Taylor's Architecture in Dharwar and Mysore, 1866, several images for which are included in this collection.

Among the most significant of the 15 photographs are a three-part panorama of the temples of Hampi, a world Heritage site in Karnataka, an image of a tower in the wall of a Zenana, the part of the house reserved for women in south Asian Muslim homes, in the ruins at nearby Kamalapur.

It also includes the famous giant statue of Yoga Narasimha, a Hindu deity often portrayed as half man and half lion, between Hampi and Kamalpur.