Western Daily Press (Saturday)
‘Last photo’ of Gandhi in sale set to top £500k
GANDHI’S belongings - including his own handmade loincloths, wooden sandals and what’s believed to be the last photo taken of him alive are expected to raise more than half a million pounds at auction in the West.
The 70-piece collection features 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, is confident the 70-piece auction will raise up to £500,000.
Andrew Stowe, auctioneer, said: “These items are genuinely some of the most important things I have ever seen in an auction.
“This collection is so important to the history of our world - it will truly blow people away.”
A standout in the collection is what is believed to be the last photograph taken of Gandhi while he was still alive.
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 where he was sitting on the day he was killed.
Andrew said: “This unique item could reach £1,000.
“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 1947 at Birla House, New Delhi.
It was taken by either Gandhi’s personal physician Doctor Kanuga, or Kanuga’s wife Nandubahen.
Gandhi stayed at the mansion house for 144 days before his assassination on January 30, 1948.
An additional highlight in the auction is the appearance of Gandhi’s trademark loincloths described by Andrew as a “unique piece of history” and expected to make £15,000 to £25,000.
Gandhi made his loincloths from khadi – a fine woven cotton
These objects’ cultural and historical significance is immeasurable ANDREW STOWE
fabric he championed all Indians to wear – on his loom in the 1930s, and the special piece even features his own signature ‘Bapu’ (meaning Father).
Andrew 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.
“This means so much more than just a piece of clothing - it was his biggest political statement.”
Many of the items, including two pairs of Gandhi’s sandals which are expected to fetch £15,000 to £25,000, relate to Gandhi’s personal physician during the 1930s.
Doctor Kanuga was gifted several items and kept letters from Gandhi and other politically prevalent figures during the time.
Also up for sale is a hand-made sash given to Gandhi just before the famous Salt March (the act of civil disobedience Gandhi led to protest British rule in India from March to April 1930) - including a photograph of it being presented.
The sash is estimated to fetch between £6,000 and £8,000.
Perhaps the most profound items in the collection are the letters hand-written by Gandhi while imprisoned in Poona, India.
One politically charged letter, expected to sell for nearly £10,000, reveals Gandhi’s desperation to discard Western culture which he condemned as “poisonous air”.
The sale, also featuring a pair of Gandhi’s sunglasses, an inkwell from his desk and a pair of spectacles set to fetch tens of thousands, has taken more than a year to curate, with the items from a number of private individuals.
Andrew said: “Gandhi is an iconic figure from our history one instantly conjures up this image of him with his fine rimmed glasses, loincloth and sandals.
“To be able to handle these objects feels very special and their cultural and historical significance is immeasurable.”
The online-only auction ends on Friday, May 21. It can be viewed on East Bristol Auctions website www.eastbristol.co.uk.