A rare collection of Mahatma Gandhi’s 688 handwritten notes to his close aide Anand T. Hingorani has been auctioned in Mumbai for $1.69 million, setting a record for an Indian historical document. Written between 1944 and 1946, the messages on truth, non-violence, and self-restraint, along with other personal items, will remain in India but have drawn criticism from the National Gandhi Museum.
FREEDOM FIGHTER MAHATMA GANDHI’S rare collection of handwritten notes has been sold at an auction in Mumbai, Maharashtra, recently. The collection of Gandhi’s handwritten notes was reportedly sold for a whopping $1.69 million (approximately Rs 16.2 crore). The now-sold items included around 688 messages on truth, self-restraint, and non-violence, addressed to Gandhi’s close aide and fellow freedom fighter, Anand T. Hingorani.
As per a report by the BBC dated August 21, 2026, auction house Saffronart claimed that the auction of Gandhi’s handwritten notes has made history by becoming the highest-priced item for an Indian historical document. Mahatma Gandhi’s approach of non-violent resistance against the British Raj is still regarded as one of the most powerful symbols of India’s struggle for independence.
79 years after India’s independence, the notes, which were owned and preserved by the family of Hingorani, have gained widespread attention, with the National Gandhi Museum calling it “distressing and painful news.” The rare collection of messages to Hingorani was written between 1944 and 1946. The letters were written by Gandhi to Hingorani after the latter’s wife died and aimed to offer a sense of guidance, as reported by the BBC. All the letters were compiled into a book titled A Thought for the Day.
The auction took place on August 19, 2026, and apart from Gandhi’s 688 messages, 85 other items were also sold that day. Hingorani and Gandhi met in 1930 and were together at Sabarmati Ashram. Hingorani also joined Gandhi during the Dandi March in 1930. He had also served as Gandhi’s personal secretary for a brief period.
Saffronart also auctioned valuable items such as photographs, manuscripts, and other personal objects, including Gandhi’s portable spinning wheel and a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. The BBC reported that the identity of the person who purchased the items has not been revealed, but the items are to remain in India.
The rare collection of items not only reflected the relationship between Gandhi and Hingorani but also Gandhi’s views on ahimsa, non-possession, religious equality, untouchability, etc. The Hindustan Times reported that the key items presented at the auction on August 19, 2026, included a series of telegrams, postcards, and letters, which were sold for around Rs 57 lakh.
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The director of the National Gandhi Museum, A. Annamalai, has responded to the recent auction by the Hingorani family, who owned and preserved Gandhi’s notes. Calling it “painful news,” he added that it is a historical responsibility to preserve the original letters and Gandhi’s handwritten manuscripts, even though many of his letters have already been published in books.
“However, Gandhi’s letters, manuscripts, and personal belongings are not merely private possessions. They are part of the common heritage of India and belong to our shared history,” said Annamalai. He continued that the now-auctioned items should be preserved in a way that enables people from India and abroad to see and learn from them. Annamalai added, “The National Gandhi Museum in Delhi can preserve such rare and valuable materials safely and make them accessible and meaningful to present and future generations.”
He further requested people not to sell or auction handwritten manuscripts and items used by Mahatma Gandhi, but to hand them over directly to the National Gandhi Museum.
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(Edited by Harsh Pandey)
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