A significant collection of handwritten reflections by Mahatma Gandhi has sold at auction in Mumbai for $1.69 million, establishing a new record for the highest price paid for an Indian historical document. The notes, consisting of 688 handwritten messages composed between 1944 and 1946, were written by Gandhi to Anand T Hingorani, a close associate and fellow independence movement participant.
The messages focus on themes of truth, non-violence, and self-restraint, and were produced during a period following the death of Hingorani’s wife, Vidya. During this two-year correspondence, Gandhi provided his associate with guidance, consolation, and encouragement. These communications were subsequently published in compiled form as a book titled A Thought for the Day.
The auction, conducted by Saffronart and titled “Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani,” featured 86 lots in total. Beyond the primary collection of notes, the sale included letters, manuscripts, photographs, and personal objects that the Hingorani family had maintained across generations. The broader collection documents over two decades of India’s independence struggle and preserves records of Gandhi’s personal relationship with Hingorani.
The sale also encompassed additional significant items, including Gandhi’s written reflections on God and the Bhagavad Gita, his portable spinning wheel, and two letters addressing the spiritual practice of spinning. According to Saffronart co-founder Dinesh Vazirani, the materials provide insight into how Gandhi applied his publicly advocated principles in his personal life. While the identity of the purchaser remains undisclosed, Saffronart confirmed that the notes will remain within India.
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