Islamic & Indian Art

The Gandhi Garland

Kristina Sanne

25 November 2024

We are delighted to present this historic garland presented and worn by Mahatma Gandhi during the Dandi March in 1930 to auction in our December live online Islamic & Indian Art auction.

This garland was presented to Gandhi to mark an auspicious beginning to the Salt March, a major non-violent protest in India in March–April 1930. The Salt March was one of the most successful campaigns in Gandhi’s struggle against British rule in India to win equal rights and freedom for Indians. Starting at his ashram (religious retreat) at Sabermati (near Ahmadabad), the march reached Dandi after a journey of some 240 miles. On the morning of April 6, Gandhi and his followers picked up handfuls of salt from along the seashore. In so doing, they technically “produced” salt and broke the law.

Islamic & Indian Art

Explore the live online Wednesday 11 December auction.

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Mahatma Gandhi Being Presented with the Garland

Vintage print (105 x 80mm) of an amateur photograph of Gandhi being presented with the garland, inscribed on the reserve Gandhiji Nanduben Kanuga. On the day of the Dandi March. At Bungalow 12th March 1930.

The photograph accompanying this lot shows Nanduben Kanuga placing the garland around Gandhi’s neck. The Kanugas were not amongst the marchers but they lived in Ahmedabad, where Sabarmati Ashram was also located. The caption on the reverse of the photograph suggests that the garland was presented to Gandhi when the procession passed near their home. Although slightly faded, the distinctive triangular and rectangular medallions of the garland appear to be visible in the photograph. The item was subsequently returned to the Kanugas after the march. A few weeks later, Dr Kanuga further contributed to the cause by paying 1600 Rupees (c. $750 US) for the grains of salt that Gandhi had made at Dandi.

GARLAND PRESENTED AND WORN BY MAHATMA GANDHI

INDIA, CIRCA 1930

composed of a large teardrop shaped medallion of pink cloth backed on card applied with silver and gold thread and sequins in an elaborate decorative pattern, edged with gold tinsel, with four smaller rectangular medallions and two triangular medallions similarly decorated, all connected with gold threads and forming a necklace, in folded paper wrappers inscribed in Gujarati

£20,000 - £30,000 + fees

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The garland was formerly in the collection of the late Dr Balvantrai N. Kanuga of Ahmedabad. Dr Kanuga had been Gandhi’s personal physician as far back as 1918, and the two remained friends until the time of Gandhi’s death. Both Balvantrai N. Kanuga (1878-1949) and his wife Nanduben were also determined satyagrahi who were willing to face imprisonment for the cause of Independence and spent extensive periods at Gandhi’s ashram.