BA, VIDYA AND THE SAPTARSHI–ARUNDHATI LETTER
A group of two handwritten notes in Hindi addressed to Anand T Hingorani in October and November 1944, in which Gandhi reflects upon Vidya Hingorani's death, his own mourning following Kasturba Gandhi's passing, and the spiritual meaning of grief.
Comprising:
Letter No. 116, Note to Anand T Hingorani, 24 October 1944.
Paper; two pages; reused paper; Hindi; handwritten in black ink; concerning Kasturba Gandhi and Vidya Hingorani.
A note reflecting upon faith, divine providence, and the deaths of Kasturba Gandhi and Vidya Hingorani. Gandhi attributes his own peace to an unshakeable faith in God and urges Anand to accept Vidya's passing in the same spirit of trust.
Published in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. 85, Letter No. 116, pp. 88–89.
Letter No. 307, Note to Anand T. Hingorani, 22 November 1944.
Paper; two pages; reused paper; Hindi; handwritten in black ink; autograph note signed “Bapu”.
One of the most unusual and poetic letters in the archive. Gandhi encourages Anand not to be troubled by family remarks and invites him to reflect upon Vidya through the image of Saptarshi and Arundhati. Gandhi uses the constellation to express his belief that those united by love remain spiritually connected beyond death.
Published in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. 85, Letter No. 307.
Retained within their original archival storage envelopes, annotated by Anand T Hingorani with contemporaneous cataloguing information, including the recipient, language, format, page count, signature, writing medium, date, serial number, and related archival references.
"Has not Vidya too gone up? The Saptarshi is there, and so is the Arundhati"
These two letters were written after the death of Vidya Hingorani and only months after Gandhi lost Kasturba. Addressing Anand Hingorani's grief, Gandhi reflects on memory, companionship and the enduring relationship between souls united by love.
The first letter, written in October 1944, draws upon a shared experience of loss. Gandhi had recently lost Kasturba, his companion of more than sixty years, while Anand continued to mourn Vidya. Drawing upon his own bereavement, Gandhi offers consolation that reflects both his personal experience and his spiritual understanding of death.
The second letter, written on 22 November 1944, develops these reflections through the image of Saptarshi and Arundhati, the constellation traditionally associated with fidelity and ideal companionship. Seeking to console Anand, Gandhi suggests that death transforms rather than ends a relationship. Just as the stars remain together in the night sky, those united by love continue to exist in spiritual companionship beyond bodily life.
The image reflects Gandhi's understanding of marriage as a relationship founded upon truth, affection and shared purpose. For him, companionship survives through memory, character and the continuing influence of the soul. By invoking Saptarshi and Arundhati, he gives this belief one of its clearest expressions in the Gandhi–Hingorani correspondence.
Writing to console Anand, Gandhi asks him to look beyond physical absence and recognise Vidya's continuing presence in the life they shared and in the duties that remained before him.
This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as a reference for the condition of each lot.
A group of two handwritten notes in Hindi addressed to Anand T Hingorani in October and November 1944, in which Gandhi reflects upon Vidya Hingorani's death, his own mourning following Kasturba Gandhi's passing, and the spiritual meaning of grief.
Comprising:
Letter No. 116, Note to Anand T Hingorani, 24 October 1944.
Paper; two pages; reused paper; Hindi; handwritten in black ink; concerning Kasturba Gandhi and Vidya Hingorani.
A note reflecting upon faith, divine providence, and the deaths of Kasturba Gandhi and Vidya Hingorani. Gandhi attributes his own peace to an unshakeable faith in God and urges Anand to accept Vidya's passing in the same spirit of trust.
Published in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. 85, Letter No. 116, pp. 88–89.
Letter No. 307, Note to Anand T. Hingorani, 22 November 1944.
Paper; two pages; reused paper; Hindi; handwritten in black ink; autograph note signed “Bapu”.
One of the most unusual and poetic letters in the archive. Gandhi encourages Anand not to be troubled by family remarks and invites him to reflect upon Vidya through the image of Saptarshi and Arundhati. Gandhi uses the constellation to express his belief that those united by love remain spiritually connected beyond death.
Published in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. 85, Letter No. 307.
Retained within their original archival storage envelopes, annotated by Anand T Hingorani with contemporaneous cataloguing information, including the recipient, language, format, page count, signature, writing medium, date, serial number, and related archival references.
"Has not Vidya too gone up? The Saptarshi is there, and so is the Arundhati"
These two letters were written after the death of Vidya Hingorani and only months after Gandhi lost Kasturba. Addressing Anand Hingorani's grief, Gandhi reflects on memory, companionship and the enduring relationship between souls united by love.
The first letter, written in October 1944, draws upon a shared experience of loss. Gandhi had recently lost Kasturba, his companion of more than sixty years, while Anand continued to mourn Vidya. Drawing upon his own bereavement, Gandhi offers consolation that reflects both his personal experience and his spiritual understanding of death.
The second letter, written on 22 November 1944, develops these reflections through the image of Saptarshi and Arundhati, the constellation traditionally associated with fidelity and ideal companionship. Seeking to console Anand, Gandhi suggests that death transforms rather than ends a relationship. Just as the stars remain together in the night sky, those united by love continue to exist in spiritual companionship beyond bodily life.
The image reflects Gandhi's understanding of marriage as a relationship founded upon truth, affection and shared purpose. For him, companionship survives through memory, character and the continuing influence of the soul. By invoking Saptarshi and Arundhati, he gives this belief one of its clearest expressions in the Gandhi–Hingorani correspondence.
Writing to console Anand, Gandhi asks him to look beyond physical absence and recognise Vidya's continuing presence in the life they shared and in the duties that remained before him.
This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as a reference for the condition of each lot.