1 week ago
Hingorani Family Sells Gandhi Archive for Record Price
Anand T Hingorani became connected to Mahatma Gandhi after joining the Dandi March in 1930.
He later preserved many of Gandhi’s writings and belongings.
Gandhi wrote 688 short reflections for Hingorani between 1944 and 1946.
He wrote them to share ideas about spirituality, kindness, equality, and daily behavior.
Gandhi did not want the reflections published until he had followed those ideas himself.
The Hingorani family kept the collection for more than 80 years.
They sold it at an auction so more people could learn from it and so its legacy could support new projects.
The reflections sold for a record ₹16.20 crore.
Mahatma Gandhi’s 688-reflection “A Thought for the Day” archive sold for ₹16.20 crore ($1.70 million) at Saffronart’s online auction.
Gandhi wrote the reflections daily from 1944 to 1946 for Anand T Hingorani, first on embossed cards and later in a notebook.
Gandhi required the reflections to remain unpublished until he believed he had lived according to their ideals.
The 86-lot auction also included Gandhi’s letters, signed books, photographs, personal objects, and portable spinning wheel.
The Hingorani family sold the archive to broaden public access and support documentary and educational initiatives linked to its legacy.
- Who
- The Hingorani family, Mahatma Gandhi, Anand T Hingorani, and Saffronart were central to the sale.
- What
- An archive containing Gandhi’s 688 daily reflections, along with other materials, was sold at auction for ₹16.20 crore ($1.70 million).
- Where
- The auction was held online by Saffronart, and the archive remained within India after the sale.
- When
- Gandhi wrote the reflections from 1944 to 1946; the auction took place online on August 18 and 19.
- Why
- The Hingorani family said it wanted the archive to reach a wider audience and help fund documentary and educational initiatives.
Key facts
- Collection
- Mahatma Gandhi’s “A Thought for the Day” archive and related materials
- Reflection count
- 688 daily reflections
- Writing period
- 1944–1946
- Auction price
- ₹16.20 crore ($1.70 million)
- Auction house
- Saffronart
- Auction size
- 86 lots
- Archive history
- Preserved by the Hingorani family for more than 80 years
Quotes
Minal Vazirani
Saffronart co-founder who discussed the Gandhi archive and auction
“It's incredible that for almost two years -- 23 months to be precise -- every day, he wrote down a thought... and gave those to Anand Hingorani.”
rediff.com
“moments of philosophy... really talking about the conduct of everyday life”
rediff.com
Sources
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