Description:

Mohandas Gandhi
Delhi, India, January 22, 1889
1889 Gandhi Letter - The Earliest We Have Seen, Signed Twice!
ALS
An excessively rare and very early autograph letter signed by Mohandas Gandhi, one page, 3.5" x 5.5", Delhi, postmarked January 22, 1889. In Gujarati to his brother Laxmidas Karamchand Param on a postcard. Light soiling and wear consistent with age, otherwise very good. In addition to signing at the conclusion as "Mohandas Karamchand Pranam," Gandhi signs again as "Gandhi" on the address portion of the card.

While living in South Africa, Gandhi writes, in part: "...This week I have not received your letter. I do not know what the reason is. You have to be careful in mailing a letter…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 [and it] has started getting very cold. Mother must have come now. Also brother Karsandas must have come; probably his wife will also come...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…[and] to Maghjibhai, Lalbhai, Karsandas…Nathubhai, Kapurbhai, Ganu Vaidfdraj and the rest...What about Parshottam's marriage? I hope you have ordered the gold chain….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 the send the chain and pendant here…".

In 1893, Gandhi moved to South Africa to represent an Indian merchant involved in a lawsuit. The position was a one-year contract, but Gandhi remained there for 21 years before returning to India. While in South Africa, he established himself as a political leader after having personally experienced the rampant discrimination against Indians: "They were compelled to pay a poll tax of £3; they were not allowed to own land except in specially allotted locations, a kind of ghetto; they had no franchise, and were not allowed to walk on the pavement or move out of doors after 9 p.m. without a special permit." (South African History.org)

Gandhi would eventually launch a campaign against legislation that would deprive Indians of the right to vote and, in 1906, organized his first campaign of "satyagraha" or mass civil disobedience. After seven years of protest, he negotiated a compromise agreement with the South African government.

Laxmidas Karamchand Gandhi (1860-1914) was Gandhi's older brother who, after the brothers' father passed away, helped to educate Mohandas and sent him to England for legal studies.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was a revered Indian political leader and activist whose efforts towards Indian liberation through non-violent means made him the most influential figure in the history of modern India. After studying law in England, Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa defending the rights of Indian immigrants there. Upon his return to his native country, he became the leader of the Indian National Congress and embarked on a life-long crusade for Indian independence from Great Britain. Gandhi urged for non-violent and civil disobedience, and in doing so became the inspiration for later civil rights pioneers such as Martin Luther King, Jr. His many acts of defiance resulted in repeated incarceration, where he staged hunger strikes and other demonstrations of civil disobedience that brought him international attention. In 1947, Gandhi would participate in the post-World War II negotiations that led to Indian independence. The following year, he was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 3.5" x 5.5"
  • Medium: ALS

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