Mahatma Gandhi’s Letters, Charkha And Personal Items To Go Under Hammer At Saffronart

Mahatma Gandhi’s letters, photographs, handwritten reflections and personal belongings will go under the hammer at Saffronart’s online auction on August 18 and 19, offering a rare glimpse into his private life and decades long association with Anand T Hingorani.

Titled “GANDHI: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani - Letters, Philately, Manuscripts and Artefacts,” the sale features 86 lots preserved by the Hingorani family across generations. The collection is on view from August 6 to 19, between 11 am and 7 pm.

Hingorani met Gandhi in 1930, worked at Sabarmati Ashram, joined the Dandi March, participated in the Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements, and later helped preserve and publish Gandhi’s writings.

The centrepiece is “A Thought for the Day: Gandhi’s 688 Autograph Reflections for Anand T Hingorani, 1944-1946,” estimated at Rs 15-25 crore. Written between November 20, 1944 and October 10, 1946 after the death of Hingorani’s wife Vidya, the handwritten reflections cover truth, ahimsa, prayer, duty, fearlessness, religious equality, service, Swaraj and self realisation.

Among the personal objects is Gandhi’s peti charkha, a compact wooden box spinning wheel, accompanied by two letters on the spiritual discipline of spinning. It is estimated at Rs 50-70 lakh. His rosary, prayer pouches and letters of blessing carry an estimate of Rs 30-40 lakh, while an AFTAB pocket watch by West End Watch Co., gifted by Gandhi to Hingorani, is estimated at Rs 20-30 lakh.

The photographs offer intimate visual glimpses. One shows Gandhi at an open air prayer gathering, surrounded by people, with his handwritten “Bapu ke Ashirvad”, or “Blessings from Bapu”. Another is a contemplative full length portrait, also inscribed by Gandhi, estimated at Rs 3-5 lakh. A photograph of Gandhi and Kasturba carries the phrase “Anant Path Ke Sahyatri,” or “Companions on the Endless Journey.”

The archive also documents the Salt Satyagraha, Gandhi’s 1930 arrest at Karadi near Dandi, the freedom struggle and Partition years. Publications include Satyagraha Ashram: Rules and Regulations, reflecting the discipline of Ashram life.

Among the most poignant documents is a January 30, 1948 letter to Anand and Gangi Hingorani, written on Gandhi’s behalf by Shiv Balak Bisen. It concerns Gangi’s proposed Sevagram visit and postage stamps collected for Mahadev Hingorani. Estimated at Rs 10-15 lakh, its date is especially significant as Gandhi was assassinated that day.

Other letters show Gandhi consoling Anand after Vidya’s death and encouraging work, spinning and Ashram activity.

Saffronart President and Co founder Minal Vazirani described the archive as revealing Gandhi as a leader, mentor, confidant, correspondent and friend. Together, the 86 lots connect his political, spiritual and personal worlds, through objects he used, photographs he signed and letters he wrote.