Description:

MOHANDAS K. GANDHI
(1869-1948) Indian nationalist and spiritual leader considered the father of his country, Gandhi's philosophy of passive resistance and non-violence set the stage for the British withdrawal from and independence of India. A superb and very early A.L.S., 2pp. 12mo., London, Jan. 4, 1889, in Gujarati and signed at conclusion: 'Mohandas Karamchad Param' and 'Gandhi' in the address area on verso. Gandhi writes a war, family content letter to LAXMIDAS K. GANDHI (1860-1914), his older brother who after the brothers' father passed away, helped him in his studies and sent him off to London to study law. In part: '...This week I have not received your letter. It does not reach (in time) if it is mailed late. Something happened week before last and it happened just the same this week. I get worried when I do not receive any letter. My health remains very good. I also wrote to you that winter has set in. I also wrote to you that it has started getting extremely cold. Mother must have come now. Also brother Karsandas must have come. Probably his wife will also come. Fooli must have become very smart now. I already wrote to you last week about the receipt of the photographs. Mother's mind must be at peace now. Give my respects to her if she is there at present. Give my respects to Meghjibhai, Lalbhai, Karsandas (if he is there), Nathubhai, Kapurbhai, Ganu Vaidraj and the rest. What about Parshottam's marriage? I hope you have ordered the golden chain. Photograph will be ready next week. It is a gift and you will receive it. It would not take long to get the pendant made. Give the photograph to my sister-in-law and send the chain and pendant here. I have written the most. My regards to Changanlal, Harakhchand, my sister-in-law, Vrajlal, etc...' During this time, Gandhi was studying law in London. Gandhi demonstrated a keen interest in the welfare of London's impoverished dockland communities. In 1889, a bitter trade dispute broke out in London, with dockers striking for better pay and conditions, and seamen, shipbuilders, factory girls and other joining the strike in solidarity. The strikers were successful, in part due to the mediation of Cardinal Manning, leading Gandhi and an Indian friend to make a point of visiting the cardinal and thanking him for his work. Chipped corner, otherwise very good. Gandhi's mother, PUTLIBAI GANDHI (1844-1891), was the 4th, and youngest, wife of the former Rajkot Dewan Karamchand Gandhi, Mohandas Gandhi's father. She bore four children to Karamchand Gandhi, and Mohandas was her youngest son, whom she affectionately called 'Monia'. She was a very religious woman, and practiced Hinduism schooling the young Mahatma Gandhi extensively. He wrote extensively about his mother and her conditions for him leaving India for England to pursue his education to become a barrister in his autobiography 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth'.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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