Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
leader of India during the Indian independence movement, 1869-1948
Gandhi was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. On 30 January 1948, a Hindu nationalist, assassinated Gandhi on 30 January 1948 by firing three bullets into his chest at point-blank range. Indians widely describe Gandhi as the father of the nation. His birthday, 2 October, is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and world-wide as the International Day of Nonviolence.
Source: Wikipedia
leader of India during the Indian independence movement (1869-1948). Series of nine letters, notes and cards. [Sabermati Ashram]. Chiefly 12mo. Altogether 10 pages on 9 ff.
$ 72,722 / 65.000 €
(79707/BN51792)
Series of nine letters, notes and cards (all in Gujarati), eight to Jamnabehn and one to Yashwant Prasad, comprising two autograph letters signed, three autograph cards signed, and four cards signed in pencil, discussing Gandhi's diet and health, refusing the offer of a blanket ("one that I have is enough"), and expressing his concern about Yashwant Prasad's heart condition: "Don’t worry about me. I take all the precautions necessary. God is there to take care of all of us. Before the Almighty we are helpless, worrying causes unnecessary problems [...]" (transl.).
Jamnabehn, a member of the extended Gandhi clan, was an active weaver of khadi on the charkha and worked alongside Dadabhai Naroji's grandchildren Perin Ben Captain and Khrushed Behn. Most of these letters date from 1926, when Gandhi was living in self-imposed withdrawal from the public world at Sabarmati and experimenting with a diet of fruit. - Small burn holes to two letters, nicks and tears at edges; browned..
leader of India during the Indian independence movement (1869-1948). Photograph of Mahatma Gandhi seated with Sir Richard Casey, Governor of Bengal, during their meeting at Calcutta. Signed by Gandhi ("M. K. Gandhi" and in Gujarati) and Casey ("R. G. Casey"). [Calcutta. 160 x 205 mm. Gelatin silver print, stamped in purple on verso: "... Kindly Acknowledge to J. C. Patel A.R.P.S., c/o Bombay Photo Store ..., Calcutta". Framed and glazed.
$ 31,326 / 28.000 €
(87381/BN57876)
Richard Casey (1890-1976) was made Governor of Bengal by Winston Churchill in January 1944, in the immediate aftermath of the great famine, and against a background of increased nationalist agitation. He "was shocked by British racial snobbery, and he tried to break down walls between Government House in Calcutta and the local community" (Australian DNB), partly through the organisation of a series of face-to-face meetings held between himself and Gandhi in Calcutta in December 1945, at one of which our photograph was taken. In later life Casey served as Governor-General of Australia from 1965 to 1969.
leader of India during the Indian independence movement (1869-1948). Autograph letter signed ("M. K. Gandhi"). Sabarmati Ashram. 8vo (123 x 223 mm). 1 p. In pencil.
$ 16,782 / 15.000 €
(105131/BN66156)
Replying to apologies he received from A. C. Chatterjee, a journalist at the Associated Press of India, with respect to a mistake that was made in a publication: "Krishadus has shown me your kind letter. I am sure you need not trouble to come here to explain anything. I know enough of journalism to appreciate the fact that errors are at times inevitable. I have dismissed the incident altogether from my mind [...]".
leader of India during the Indian independence movement (1869-1948)]. A pair of sunglasses, once owned and worn by Gandhi. Made in Germany. Frameless octagonal lenses with gold-plated arms, bakelite nose rests and black rubberised ear supports. Housed in original ribbed cloth velvet-lined case with original label which bears an ink inscription "To Mr Shankaran, From Mrs Gandhi".
$ 50,346 / 45.000 €
(105865/BN67591)
Rimless sunglasses featuring octagonal hand-cut lenses, specifically made for Gandhi around 1910. Consigned to a Bristol auction in 2022 by a vendor who testified: "My Grandfather was born in 1910. From his young age, he was a Freedom fighter and he participated in many protests in India during the Independence era. In 1939 he was associated in non-violent protest in Rajkot along with Kasturba Gandhi and was arrested and in 1942 he also participated in the Quit India Movement along with Mahatma Gandhi and was jailed again.
He also had close association with Mr Gandhi's secretary Mahadey Desai. Kasturba Gandhi (Gandhi's wife) gifted these frameless sunglasses to Gandhi during his trip to South Africa 1893-1912 ... Mr Gandhi and Mrs Kasturba Gandhi gifted these glasses to my grandfather as a gift in 1939-40 (not sure about the exact year) after his jail term for organizing a rally in Rajkot ... they were then passed down to me when my Grandfather passed away and have been in my possession ever since". - In a letter dated Nandi Hills, 28 April 1927, Gandhi wrote to his "dear Shankaran, Your letter is a tonic for me. You are realizing all my expectations ..." (Selected Works, vol. 4, Selected Letters, no. 56). - Two pairs of Gandhi's famous spectacles were sold at auction within the last few years, but these are the first sunglasses to be offered..