1 week ago
Gandhi’s Handwritten Reflections Fetch Record Rs 16.2 Crore at Auction
Mahatma Gandhi wrote 688 short reflections for Anand T Hingorani.
He wrote them over 23 months, or nearly two years.
The messages discussed ideas such as truth, non-violence, prayer and helping others.
They were written after the death of Hingorani’s wife, Vidya.
The writings were later collected in a book called “A Thought for the Day.”
Saffronart sold the collection for Rs 16.20 crore in Mumbai.
The auction house said this was a world record for an Indian historical document sold at auction.
Other Gandhi letters, photographs and personal objects were also sold.
A collection of 688 dated handwritten reflections by Mahatma Gandhi sold for Rs 16.20 crore.
Saffronart said the sale set a world record for an Indian historical document at auction.
Gandhi wrote the reflections for close associate Anand T Hingorani over 23 months.
The messages addressed truth, non-violence, service, prayer, self-restraint and religious equality.
Other sales included “Message on God” for Rs 1.68 crore and Gandhi’s Peti Charkha for Rs 1.02 crore.
- Who
- Mahatma Gandhi, Anand T Hingorani, the Hingorani family and Saffronart were central to the auction.
- What
- A collection of 688 handwritten Gandhi reflections sold for Rs 16.20 crore, reportedly setting a world auction record for an Indian historical document.
- Where
- At a Saffronart auction in Mumbai, India.
- When
- The auction took place on Wednesday, August 19, 2026; Gandhi wrote the reflections over 23 months.
- Why
- The collection was valued for its rarity, historical significance and intimate record of Gandhi’s ideas and relationship with Hingorani.
Key facts
- Sale price
- Rs 16.20 crore (£1.34 million; about $1.70 million)
- Collection size
- 688 dated, handwritten reflections by Mahatma Gandhi
- Auction record
- Saffronart said the sale set a world record for an Indian historical document sold at auction
- Auction title
- “Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani”
- Auction size
- 86 lots containing letters, manuscripts, photographs and personal objects
- Collection title
- The reflections were later compiled as “A Thought for the Day”
- Other notable sales
- “Message on God” sold for Rs 1.68 crore; Gandhi’s Peti Charkha with two letters sold for Rs 1.02 crore
Quotes
Dinesh Vazirani
Co‑founder of Saffronart
“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. The exceptional response to Lot 80 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.”
telegraphindia.com
CNBC TV 18
“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.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Mahatma Gandhi's handwritten notes sell for record rs 16.2 crore | GRAVITAS
Mahatma Gandhi manuscript sells for record Rs 16.2 crore at Saffronart auction - Telegraph India
Gandhi’s set of daily reflections fetches Rs 16.2 crore at auction
Mahatma Gandhi’s handwritten manuscript sets world record at £1.34 million Saffronart auction
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