Gandhi's daily notes on truth, ahimsa fetch record Rs 16.2 crore at auction

Saffronart auction house sold 688 autographed reflections by Mahatma Gandhi, written to freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani, for Rs 16.20 crore. The sale set a world record for an Indian historical document sold at an auction.A collection of 688 autographed reflections by Mahatma Gandhi on subjects such as truth, ahimsa (non-violence) and service, written to his close associate and freedom fighter Anand T Hingorani, fetched Rs 16.2 crore at a recent auction organised by Mumbai-based Saffronart.The sale set a world record for an Indian historical document sold at an auction. Written over a period of two years following the death of Hingorani's wife, Vidya, the daily handwritten notes offered guidance, reflection and encouragement. The messages were later compiled into a book titled "A Thought for the Day" and are regarded as among the most intimate surviving records of correspondence between Gandhi and Hingorani.Though the buyer's identity was not disclosed, the auction house said "the buyer is from within India and the manuscript will stay in the country." The auction, "Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani," featured 86 lots comprising letters, manuscripts, photographs and personal objects associated with Gandhi. According to Saffronart, the manuscript addresses truth, ahimsa, brahmacharya, nonpossession, fearlessness, religious equality, the removal of untouchability, prayer, Ramanama, service, labour, hunger, duty, Swaraj, moral responsibility, silence, conscience, nonattachment, selfrealisation and the search for God.Besides documenting major political events of that era, the collection also sheds light on the deeply personal dimensions of Gandhi's life, capturing both the public leader of India's freedom movement and the private individual "who offered counsel, consolation, discipline, and affection to those closest to him." "It has been a privilege to bring the Anand T Hingorani Collection to auction and share a remarkable record of Gandhi's life and thought. What makes this collection particularly compelling is the opportunity to see one of the most significant figures in India's history through the lens of a close, personal relationship," Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder, Saffronart, said in a statement.He added, "The exceptional response to Lot 80 – a series of reflections written by Gandhi for Hingorani – reinforces its rarity and historical significance. Together, these reflections offer a rare insight into how Gandhi lived the principles he advocated publicly, making this an especially valuable record of his thought and practice.""Message on God," a set of three related manuscript and correspondence items providing insights into Gandhi's reflections on God and the Bhagavad Gita, was sold for Rs 1.68 crore at the auction.Among the personal objects up for bidding was Gandhi's 'peti charkha' (box spinning wheel) along with two letters on the spiritual discipline of spinning, estimated at Rs 50–70 lakh. It fetched Rs 1.02 crore.A signed presentation photograph of Gandhi writing sold for Rs 78 lakh and a set of his letters, telegrams, and postcards on economic independence drew a winning bid of Rs 57.60 lakh.Preserved by the Hingorani family across generations, the collection offered an intimate glimpse into Gandhi's life and beliefs through his longstanding relationship with Hingorani.Spanning more than 20 years, the archive encompasses personal correspondence, handwritten reflections, photographs and objects that document not only defining moments in India's freedom struggle, but also the friendship, mentorship and deeply personal exchanges between Gandhi and Hingorani.- Ends(With inputs from PTI)Published On: Aug 21, 2026 08:25 IST