Gandhi's Daily Reflections Fetch Record $1.7M at Mumbai Auction

A collection of Mahatma Gandhi's daily reflections sold for $1.7 million (approximately €1.45 million) at an auction in Mumbai, setting a world record for an Indian historical document, according to auction house Saffronart. The documents, from the estate of Anand T Hingorani, a close associate of Gandhi, comprise moral reflections and personal guidance written over nearly two years. Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder of Saffronart, noted that these reflections offer rare insight into how Gandhi lived the principles he publicly advocated, making them a particularly valuable testament to his thought and action. Gandhi, who led India to independence through nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule, first met Hingorani in 1930, and Hingorani participated in the Salt March, a peaceful protest against the British salt monopoly. The auction also included Gandhi's manuscripts, two letters on the spiritual practice of spinning, and photographs and personal items from the Hingorani collection. The sale took place on Wednesday, and the record price underscores the enduring global significance of Gandhi's legacy.