Gandhi’s handwritten notes on life sold for $1.69m at Indian auction
The notes, owned and preserved by the family of close associate and freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani, include 688 of Gandhi's handwritten messages on truth, non-violence and self-restraint written between 1944 and 1946.
Mumbai witnessed a historic auction on August 21 as a rare collection of handwritten notes penned by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi fetched a record-breaking $1.69 million (£1.3 million). The notes, belonging to the family of close associate Anand T Hingorani, are comprised of 688 messages penned by Gandhi on themes such as truth, non-violence, and self-restraint, spanning from 1944 to 1946.
The high-profile sale at auction house Saffronart not only set a new benchmark for the value of Indian historical documents but also provided an unprecedented personal glimpse into the life of the revered political leader. Gandhi, affectionately known as the father of the nation, led India's non-violent resistance against British colonial rule.
The auction, titled "Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani," featured 86 items, including letters, manuscripts, photographs, and personal objects preserved by the Hingorani family over generations. Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder of Saffronart, emphasized that the collection allows viewers to perceive Gandhi "through the lens of a close, personal relationship."
Among the highlighted items were the notes Gandhi exchanged with Hingorani after his wife's passing, compiled into a book titled "A Thought for the Day." These reflections shed light on how Gandhi embodied the principles he espoused publicly, making this collection an invaluable record of his thought and practice. While the buyer's identity remains undisclosed, Saffronart assured that the notes will remain in India.
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