Gandhi’s treasures sell for £350,000
GANDHI’S belongings, including his own hand-made loincloths, wooden sandals and what’s believed to be the last photo of him taken alive, raised a total of £350,000 at auction.
The 70-piece collection featured items that were owned and associated with the iconic figure.
East Bristol Auctions, which previously sold a pair of Gandhi’s spectacles for £260,000 in 2020, said the sale attracted interest and bidders from across the world.
Among the items sold were Gandhi’s famous loincloth embroidered with his name ‘Bapu’ that went for £80,000.
A letter penned by both Gandhi and Indian Freedom Fighter Vallabhbhai Patel sold for £34,000 while the pair of his own worn sandals went for £24,000.
Various other letters and items sold for between £1,000 and £20,000 each.
Speaking after the sale, Andrew Stowe, auctioneer, said: “It was an incredible sale. We had bidders from all around the world just waiting to snap up a piece of history.
“Gandhi’s teachings and philosophies are still followed by millions around the world, and this sale highlighted how he is still regarded as an important figure in our history.”
Another standout in the collection was what was believed to be the last photograph taken of Gandhi.
The picture was taken in the exact same place where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated just three weeks later - the chair he is perched on in this photograph is the same chair he was sat on during the day he was killed.
Mr Stowe said: “This is totally unique item. We believe Gandhi’s personal doctor took the photo and have reason to think it is one of, if not the last known photo taken of the man before he was shot. It’s incredible.”
The unseen photograph, showing Gandhi seated with a spinning wheel or similar wooden tool, was taken in Nandubahen in 1947 at Birla House, New Delhi. It was taken by either Gandhi’s personal physician Doctor Kanuga or his wife Nandubahen.
Gandhi stayed at the mansion house for a period of 144 days before his assassination on 30th January 1948.
Gandhi’s trademark loincloth was described by Mr Stowe as a “unique piece of history”.
It was made from Khadi, a fine woven cotton fabric the Mahatma championed all Indians to wear, on his loom in the 1930s - and the special piece even features his own signature ‘Bapu’ (meaning father).
Mr Stowe added: “Not only was this worn by Gandhi, but actually made by him too.
“Gandhi used Khadi as a means to cast away Western culture and clothing, and return India to more traditional clothes.
“This means so much more than just a piece of clothing - it was his biggest political statement.”
Perhaps the most profound items in the collection were the letters hand-written by Gandhi himself whilst he was imprisoned in Poona, India.
One politically charged letter revealed Gandhi’s desperation to discard Western culture which he condemned as “poisonous air”.
The sale also featured a pair of Gandhi’s sunglasses, an inkwell from his desk and a pair of spectacles.
It took more than a year to curate, with the items derived from a number of private individuals.