India Office Records

Overall, the collection is made up of approximately 175,000 items, including official publications and records, manuscripts, photographs, printed maps and private papers.

The historical scope of the records begins in 1600, when the East India Company was granted exclusive rights to trade in much of Asia, including the entire Indian subcontinent.

In the mid-18th century, the Company began to undertake a governmental role in large parts of India, in order to organize the nascent colony to better facilitate trade.

In 1947, the year of Indian independence, ownership of the records transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British government.

The classes are as follows:[1] The collection is useful for genealogical and family history research, particularly for those who have ancestors who were Anglo-Indian or who were born or lived in British India.

The collection can be used to bolster research on almost any topic involving the history of India from 1600–1947 by providing unique information relating to the British administration's understanding of events.

(This detail in itself gives insight into the administration's increasing concern with secrecy, as well as their fear of Gandhi and the threat he posed to British authority.)

Many of these records are proposals for responses to Gandhi's actions, including plans to prepare for riots in the event of his death during one of his fasts.

He also refers to some of Hitler's writings as "monstrous", and makes it clear that he has no interest in seeking German aid for the end of British rule in India.

He repeatedly appealed to the British to send medical aid, including an Ayurvedic physician, and when it became clear that she would not survive, he lashed out at them, complaining that her treatment was inadequate.

The letters reflect a belief that Gandhi's fasts and other dramatic forms of protest stirred up violence among the Indian population.

In the letter, he acknowledges Gandhi's concerns about India, but suggests that World War II and the defeat of the Axis powers should take precedence.