Gandhi Manuscripts Set World Record at Saffronart Auction

A collection of 688 autographed reflections written by Mahatma Gandhi to his close associate Anand T. Hingorani sold for 16.20 crore rupees ($1.7 million) at a Saffronart auction. The sale established a world record for the highest price ever paid for an Indian historical document at auction. The manuscripts, titled "A Thought for the Day," were written between 1944 and 1946 to console Hingorani following the death of his wife, Vidya, and cover themes of truth, non-violence, and religious equality.

The broader auction, titled "Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani," featured 86 lots. Other high-value items included a peti charkha (box spinning wheel) that sold for 1.02 crore rupees and manuscripts regarding God and the Bhagavad Gita that fetched 1.68 crore rupees. Saffronart confirmed the winning bidder is based in India and the documents will remain in the country.

Following the sale, A. Annamalai, director of the National Gandhi Museum, condemned the auction. Annamalai argued that Gandhi's personal belongings and writings are part of India's common heritage rather than private possessions, describing the news as "deeply distressing and painful." He appealed to owners of similar artifacts to donate them to the museum for public preservation.