Mahatma Gandhi’s handwritten notes sold for record $1.7 million at auction
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A collection of Mahatma Gandhi’s handwritten reflections has fetched $1.70 million, or ₹16.20 crore, at an auction, setting a record for the highest price paid for an Indian historical document.
The notes, written over a period of two years, were addressed to Gandhi’s close friend and aide Anand T. Hingorani. Gandhi had written them to offer Hingorani spiritual guidance and comfort following the death of his wife, Vidya, The New Indian Express reported.
The reflections were later compiled into the book A Thought for the Day, giving the manuscripts significance as a record of Gandhi’s philosophy as well as his personal bond with those close to him.
The collection was sold by Saffronart as the highlight of an 86-lot auction titled “Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T. Hingorani.”
The larger archive, preserved by the Hingorani family for decades, covers more than 20 years of Gandhi’s life and includes personal letters and other documents linked to important phases of India’s freedom movement.
The record-breaking sale underscores the continuing historical and cultural significance of Gandhi’s handwritten works, offering a glimpse into his ideas and his relationships with people in his inner circle.