Mumbai: A rare collection of handwritten notes by Mahatma Gandhi has been sold for $1.69 million (around ₹14 crore) at an auction in Mumbai, setting a record for the highest price paid for an Indian historical document at auction.
The collection includes 688 handwritten messages written by Gandhi between 1944 and 1946, focusing on truth, non-violence and self-restraint. The notes were preserved by the family of his close associate and freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani.
A personal side of Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi wrote to Hingorani for around two years following the death of his wife, Vidya. His messages offered guidance, consolation and encouragement and were later compiled into a book titled A Thought for the Day.
The writings provide a more personal glimpse into Gandhi’s thoughts and his efforts to practise the principles he publicly advocated during India’s struggle for independence.
Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder of Saffronart, said the collection allowed people to view Gandhi through the lens of his close personal relationship with Hingorani.
Historic collection remains in India
The notes were the highlight of Saffronart’s 86-lot auction, titled Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani. The collection also featured letters, manuscripts, photographs and personal objects preserved by the Hingorani family over generations.
Other notable items included Gandhi’s notes on God and the Bhagavad Gita, his portable spinning wheel and two letters concerning the spiritual discipline of spinning.
The collection spans more than two decades, documenting Gandhi’s friendship with Hingorani alongside important periods in India’s independence movement.
Saffronart has not revealed the identity of the buyer but confirmed that the handwritten notes will remain in India, preserving a significant piece of the nation’s historical and personal legacy.