Gandhi’s handwritten notes sell for record $1.7m in Mumbai

Mumbai's Saffronart auction house recently sold a collection of handwritten notes written by Mahatma Gandhi for a record $1.7 million, making it the highest price ever paid for an Indian historical document. The collection comprised 688 notes written by Gandhi to Anand T Hingorani, a close associate and freedom fighter, following the death of Hingorani's wife, Vidya.

The notes, dated between 1944 and 1946, cover various topics such as truth, God, and non-violence. The collection, titled "Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani," also included Gandhi's portable spinning wheel and notes on spinning discipline. Saffronart's co-founder, Dinesh Vazirani, noted that the collection provides a unique perspective on Gandhi through a personal relationship, emphasizing the enduring interest in his life and legacy.

Gandhi, a key figure in India's independence movement, advocated for non-violent resistance against British rule and inspired similar campaigns worldwide. He was assassinated in January 1948.