Historic Auction: Mahatma Gandhi's Personal Reflections Fetch ₹16.20 Crore

A Record-Breaking Sale of Gandhi's Autographed Reflections

New Delhi: A remarkable auction at Saffronart has set a new world record for an Indian historical document, with a collection of 688 autographed reflections by Mahatma Gandhi selling for ₹16.20 crore. These handwritten messages, penned over two years following the passing of Anand T Hingorani’s wife, Vidya, encompass themes such as truth, ahimsa, and service. Compiled into a book titled “A Thought for the Day,” these reflections represent some of the most personal correspondence between Gandhi and Hingorani.

The auction, titled “Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani,” showcased 86 lots, including letters, manuscripts, photographs, and personal items linked to Gandhi. The auction house highlighted that the manuscripts delve into various topics, including truth, ahimsa, religious equality, and moral responsibility.

In addition to chronicling significant political events, this collection unveils the intimate aspects of Gandhi’s life, portraying him as both a public leader and a private individual who provided guidance and support to those close to him. Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder of Saffronart, expressed the honor of presenting this collection, emphasizing its unique perspective on Gandhi through a personal lens.

Among the notable items, a manuscript titled “Message on God,” which includes Gandhi’s thoughts on God and the Bhagavad Gita, sold for ₹1.68 crore. Other personal artifacts included Gandhi’s ‘peti charkha’ (box spinning wheel), which fetched ₹1.02 crore, and a signed photograph of Gandhi writing, which sold for ₹78 lakh. The collection, meticulously preserved by the Hingorani family, offers a profound insight into Gandhi’s life and his enduring relationship with Hingorani, spanning over two decades.