In India, a set of recently discovered photographs is drawing attention to the role of women in one of the country's biggest anti-colonial movements, known as the civil disobedience movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930-31.

The images do not simply capture female participation. They are visual proof of how women commanded and dominated political activity, often relegating men to the sidelines.

In April 1930, Gandhi concluded his pivotal salt march, breaking the British monopoly on salt production - a charged symbol of colonial misrule. Raising a handful of muddy salt from the sea, he declared himself to be "shaking the foundations of the British Empire".

Afterwards, Gandhi presided over waves of civil disobedience protests, encouraging supporters of the Indian National Congress to manufacture contraband salt, boycott foreign goods, and face down phalanxes of lathi-wielding policemen. Just a few months before, the Congress had declared purna swaraj (complete independence) as its political objective for India.

Historians have long recognised the civil disobedience movement as an important turning point in Indian politics.

First, women joined anti-colonial activities in greater numbers. When Gandhi began his salt march he forbade women from joining, but several female leaders eventually convinced him to accord them a greater role.

Second, Congress leaders harnessed modern media technologies like radio, film, and photography, which helped their political struggle reach an international audience.

About 20 years ago, one album of photographs from the movement appeared at a London auction. Tipped off by an antiquarian dealer in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), the Alkazi Foundation, a Delhi-based art collection, acquired the album.

Small in size with a coal-gray cover, the album gave few clues about its provenance.

Scrawled on its spine were the words "Collections of Photographs of Old Congress Party- K. L. Nursey."

No one knew the identity of KL Nursey. Typewritten photo captions were brief and rife with spelling and factual errors. The album remained undisturbed in the Alkazi Foundation's collections until........

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