Mahatma Gandhi's Daily Reflections Book Fetches Record Rs 16.2 Crore at Auction

A collection of Mahatma Gandhi’s daily reflections on truth, self-restraint, and non-violence has fetched Rs 16.20 crore at a Saffronart auction. The sale, which took place on Wednesday, has set a world record for an Indian historical document sold at auction.

The archive, compiled as a book titled 'A Thought for the Day', consists of 688 dated reflections penned over a period of 23 months. Written for Gandhi's close associate and disciple Anand T Hingorani, the collection provides an almost uninterrupted record of Gandhi's moral philosophy and personal guidance.

Origins of the Daily Reflections

The correspondence between Gandhi and Hingorani began as an act of compassion. Gandhi reached out to Hingorani following the death of Hingorani's wife, Vidya. According to the Hingorani family, Hingorani was also undergoing nature-cure treatment for his deafness at the time and had shared the depth of his loneliness and grief with Gandhi.

In response, Gandhi set aside time each day to write a personal thought. Minal Vazirani, Co-founder and President of Saffronart, explained that what began as a personal exchange soon evolved into a collaborative project. While Gandhi authored each reflection, Hingorani served as the recipient, organiser, and transcriber, ultimately preparing the writings for publication.

Hingorani first met Gandhi in 1930 and worked closely with him at the Sabarmati Ashram. He participated in major freedom struggle events, including the Dandi March, the Civil Disobedience movement, and the Quit India movement. He later became an important publisher and custodian of Gandhi's writings, and his family preserved the archive across generations until his passing in 1999.

Historical Significance and Auction Highlights

The book was the centerpiece of an 86-lot sale titled 'Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani'. The auction featured various objects documenting defining moments in India's freedom struggle, as well as the friendship, mentorship, and personal exchanges between Gandhi and Hingorani. The items ranged from letters and manuscripts to philatelic items and artefacts.

Dinesh Vazirani, Co-Founder of Saffronart, stated that the exceptional response to 'A Thought for the Day' reinforces its rarity and historical significance. He noted that these reflections offer a rare insight into how Gandhi lived the principles he advocated publicly, making it an especially valuable record of his thought and practice.

Other notable items from the auction included:

• Message on God: A set of three related manuscript and correspondence items containing Gandhi's reflections on God and the Bhagavad Gita, which sold for Rs 1.68 crore.
• Peti Charkha and Letters: Gandhi's Peti Charkha, accompanied by two letters on the spiritual discipline of spinning, which fetched Rs 1.02 crore.
• Signed Photograph: A signed presentation photograph of Gandhi writing, which was sold for Rs 78 lakh.