Mahatma Gandhi's handwritten notes sell for record $1.7 million

A collection of 688 handwritten notes by Mahatma Gandhi has sold for $1.7 million (INR 16.20 crores) at an auction in Mumbai, setting a world record for an Indian historical document. The sale was conducted by Saffronart as part of the “Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani” auction.

Written between 1944 and 1946, the notes were addressed to Anand T Hingorani, a freedom fighter and close associate of Gandhi, following the death of Hingorani’s wife, Vidya. The correspondence provides a personal perspective on Gandhi’s philosophy, covering themes such as truth, God, and non-violence. The collection, which was preserved by the Hingorani family for three generations, also included Gandhi’s portable spinning wheel (charkha) and notes regarding the discipline of spinning.

Other items in the 86-lot auction also saw significant interest, including a “Message on God” which sold for INR 1.68 crores. The auction highlights the enduring historical and monetary value of Gandhi’s personal writings and artifacts.