Description:

Mahatma Gandhi
n.p., July 24, 1934
Best Gandhi ALS "Don't worry about my fast, God will fill that... Don't lose the hope"
ALS

Autograph Letter Signed by Mohandas K. Gandhi, dated 24-7-34 (July 24, 1934), written in Gujarati on two pages in green ink and signed "Bapu's Blessings." Addressed to a correspondent named Natwarlal, the letter highlights Gandhi's call for Hindu-Muslim unity, national service through Khadi, and the upliftment of laborers, urging that such work be pursued not for politics or power but for the greater good of the nation. He reassures his correspondent about his own fasting with the line, "Don't worry about my fast, God will fill that," a striking reflection of his spiritual strength and self-sacrificial leadership. Gandhi closes with the timeless message, "Don't lose the hope," anchoring the letter in both moral clarity and resilience. A certified English translation and Certificate of translation from Honey Translation Services accompany the letter. Fragile Paper, some toning, minor tearing at folds. Measures 6.25" x 8."

Ex. Christies

This is the best Gandhi letter we have ever offered in auction, and we struggle to find a comparable, ever offered in auction. In just a few lines, this letter encapsulates all of Gandhi's enduring principles: interfaith unity, national service, labor rights, and moral clarity, while also revealing his deep spiritual resilience.

The letter reads:

"Natwarlal,

I received your previous letter but due to shortage of time, I could not reply back. You requested to visit Rangoon in that letter but there is no requirement for you to request but don't have time. Only God can now send me over there.

It is good that congress has become minister and work is mild now. There is a lot of responsibility but all the further process is great. The Khadi, Ratio, Hindu-Muslim unity, benefits of nation, serving the labors—All those works should be done, not because for the purpose to make them member of congress or collect vote from them but because they served in the congress. A lot other things like to not down in accounts about the meeting of the congress members should be done. Don't lose the hope.

Don't worry about my fast. God will fill that.

Vanita's letter is bided along with this.

24-7-34?

Bapu's Blessings"

"Don't worry about my fast, God will fill that." With this simple but profound assurance, Gandhi revealed the spiritual depth that underpinned his political life. For him, fasting was not an act of weakness but of strength and an expression of faith, discipline, and self-mastery. By downplaying his own physical hardship, Gandhi reminded his correspondent that his personal sacrifices were inseparable from his larger mission: to ground India's struggle for independence in truth (satyagraha), nonviolence, and reliance on divine guidance.

Written in July 1934, this letter came at a nation in transition, shortly after the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and Gandhi's partial withdrawal from formal Congress politics. Though less involved in party leadership, he continued to shape the moral compass of the movement, stressing ideals over power. In this letter, he points to Hindu-Muslim unity, the spread of Khadi, and the upliftment of laborers as the true work of national service—goals to be pursued not for votes or influence but out of duty to the people.

Fasting was one of Gandhi's most distinctive methods of moral and political action, rooted in both his spiritual discipline and his philosophy of satyagraha (truth-force). He viewed fasting as a means of self-purification, believing that by willingly embracing physical suffering he could appeal to the conscience of others and awaken a sense of justice without resorting to violence. Gandhi's fasts ranged from deeply personal acts of prayer and penance to dramatic public protests against communal violence, social injustice, or political deadlock. Whether refusing food during the 1918 Ahmedabad mill strike, the 1932 "fast unto death" against separate electorates for Dalits, or his later fasts to halt Hindu-Muslim bloodshed, Gandhi used his own body as a site of resistance and persuasion. For him, fasting was not an act of coercion, but a demonstration of faith, sacrifice, and the moral power of nonviolence.

Gandhi's relationship with the Jasani family began in South Africa in the early 1900s when a member of the Khanderia family, close associates of Gandhi, married into the Jasani family, which was then based in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar). During a visit to Rangoon, Gandhi met the Khanderia daughter and quickly developed a close bond with her new family, the Jasanis. In 1910, the Jasanis relocated to Rajkot, Gujarat, where they rented Gandhi's boyhood home, Kaba Gandhi No Delo. Gandhi frequently visited them and humorously remarked that he would live with them if they adopted khadi clothing, which the family promptly did.

Throughout the 1930s, the Jasani family became deeply involved in Gandhi's struggle for Indian independence. They actively participated in protests, raised funds, and faced arrests for their activities. Their commitment to the movement highlighted the significant support Gandhi received from his close associates and the broader Indian diaspora.

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: 6.25" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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