Gandhi's letters to grief-stricken friend after wife's death sell for Tk 20 crore

A rare collection of 688 handwritten reflections and letters by Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India's independence movement, has been sold at auction for nearly £1.2 million, equivalent to more than Tk 20 crore in Bangladeshi currency. Auction house Saffronart said this marks a new world record for the sale of an Indian historical document at auction.

Gandhi's handwritten letters and reflections were sent to his close associate and fellow freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani. Written over nearly two years, from 20 November 1944 to 10 October 1946, the documents were later compiled into a book titled "A Thought for the Day".

Behind them lay a story of deep personal grief. Hingorani had been shattered by sorrow and loneliness following the death of his wife, Vidya. While undergoing treatment for a hearing problem, he shared his grief and loneliness with Gandhi. Hearing of his friend's suffering, Gandhi began writing him one reflection every day.

That exchange of letters and reflections, offered as personal consolation, eventually became the most extensive preserved record of Gandhi's relationship with Hingorani.

Minal Vazirani, co-founder and president of Saffronart, said Gandhi made time every day to write a personal reflection for Hingorani. She said Gandhi was the author of these reflections, while Hingorani served as their recipient, organiser and transcriber, later preparing them for publication.

The 688 writings touch on the many themes of Gandhi's lifelong thought, including truth, non-violence, celibacy or self-restraint, non-attachment to wealth, fearlessness, religious equality, prayer, service, labour, duty, silence, conscience, self-realisation and the search for god.

In addition, nine letters written in 1930 and 1931 contain Gandhi's views on Anand and Vidya Hingorani's marriage, family objections, financial independence, family reconciliation, marital responsibility and self-restraint.

The Hingorani family had preserved the collection across generations. Saffronart auctioned the items in 86 lots under the title "Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani". The main attraction was the collection of 688 handwritten reflections, estimated at Rs15 crore to Rs25 crore. It eventually sold for Rs16.2 crore, equivalent to nearly £1.2 million.

At the auction, a collection of three manuscripts and letters on Gandhi's thoughts on god and the Bhagavad Gita sold for Rs1.68 crore, while his portable box-charkha sold for Rs1.02 crore.

However, the auction has also stirred concern in India. A Annamalai, director of the National Gandhi Museum in Delhi, called it "deeply painful," saying Gandhi's original letters, manuscripts and personal belongings are not private property but part of India's shared historical heritage that must be preserved for future generations.

The buyer's identity was not disclosed. Saffronart, however, said the buyer is an Indian citizen and that the manuscripts will remain in India.