Story perspectives

Saffronart Sells Gandhi Notes for INR16.20 Crore Record

8/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

Saffronart sold Mahatma Gandhi’s 688 handwritten notes for INR16.20 crore ($1.70 million) in Mumbai.
The notes, written 1944-46, were addressed to freedom fighter Anand T. Hingorani after his wife died.
The sale set a record as the highest price for an Indian historical document.
Lot 80’s “Message on God” manuscript sold for INR1.68 crore, emphasizing the collection’s spiritual focus.
Gandhi’s portable spinning wheel fetched INR1.02 crore at the sale.

History

Historical Context

The 1972 Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, drafted to meet UNESCO’s 1970 Convention, bars permanent export of India’s cultural wealth. By 2024 the Archaeological Survey of India had protected about 1,200 manuscripts, yet Saffronart auctioned Mahatma Gandhi’s 1944-46 handwritten notes for a record INR16.20 crore, illustrating how the law’s export controls still shape market values.

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Story summary

Saffronart sold Mahatma Gandhi’s 688 handwritten notes for INR16.20 crore ($1.70 million) in Mumbai.
The notes, written 1944-46, were addressed to freedom fighter Anand T. Hingorani after his wife died.
The sale set a record as the highest price for an Indian historical document.
Lot 80’s “Message on God” manuscript sold for INR1.68 crore, emphasizing the collection’s spiritual focus.
Gandhi’s portable spinning wheel fetched INR1.02 crore at the sale.

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