The House of Lords in London discussed a book exploring Indian Civil Service officer Jagdishwar Nigam’s role in the Quit India Movement on October 28, 2026.
Titled The Administrator: Uncover the History Buried on 19th August 1942, the book was presented in Committee Room G at the Palace of Westminster.
Sheila Darbari, Nigam’s daughter, examines her father’s life and the events surrounding August 19, 1942.
According to the book, Nigam served as Kanpur’s Collector during the Quit India Movement. It recounts how he reportedly refused to order firing on protesters on August 19, 1942. This decision forms a central part of his legacy.
The publication examines File D 1204/44-Est(s), which Darbari believes sheds light on the alleged erasure of her father’s contributions from the historical record. It explores Nigam’s role in Kanpur’s industrial development.
The author links his efforts to the city’s emergence as a major economic centre.
The event attracted several distinguished guests, including the Earl of Minto, Baroness Usha Prashar, Virendra Sharma MP and Baroness Verma, along with other peers.
Reflecting on the emotional significance of the events, Darbari said, “Their whole life they lived that one moment… It was divine for them.”
A participant praised Darbari’s storytelling, saying it had kept the audience intrigued and inspired attendees to read the book.
Darbari aims to bring her father’s story and this overlooked chapter of India’s freedom struggle into the spotlight.
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