A collection of Mahatma Gandhi’s handwritten notes fetched $1.7 million at a Saffronart auction in Mumbai.
The lot contained 688 notes Gandhi wrote to freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani between 1944 and 1946 after his wife’s death.
The collection also included Gandhi’s portable spinning wheel and writings on the discipline of spinning.
A collection of notes authored by Mahatma Gandhi fetched $1.7 million at an auction. The sale set a new benchmark, achieving the largest sum ever spent on a historical artifact from India. Mumbai-based auction house Saffronart conducted the sale on Thursday, as per AFP.
The family of Gandhi’s close associate and freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani preserved the collection. The lot titled "Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani" features 688 notes penned by the leader to his close associate. Gandhi wrote the messages between 1944 and 1946 to comfort Hingorani following the death of his wife Vidya.
These communications explore themes of truth, God and non-violence. The messages were later compiled into a volume titled "A Thought for the Day". The auction lot also included Gandhi's portable spinning wheel and his supplementary writings regarding the discipline of spinning.
Record Breaking Auction Appeal
Saffronart co-founder Dinesh Vazirani highlighted the intimate nature of the letters. "What makes this collection particularly compelling is the opportunity to see one of the most significant figures in India's history through the lens of a close, personal relationship," Vazirani said in a statement.
The auction house stated the transaction highlights "the enduring interest in Gandhi's life and legacy and the particular appeal of primary-source material that offers a connection to one of the defining figures of India's freedom movement".
Gandhi directed India's non-violent independence struggle against British colonial rule and inspired similar resistance campaigns across the world. He was assassinated in January 1948.
