Mohandas Gandhi Signed Photograph

Vintage matte-finish 3.5 x 5.25 photo of Gandhi seated and spinning cotton, boldly signed in fountain pen, "M. K. Gandhi." The reverse is annotated, "Through, Rajkumari Anmrit Kaur, 2-Aug-1935." In fine condition.

After assuming control of the Indian National Congress in December 1921, Gandhi expanded his nonviolence program to include the swadeshi policy—the boycott of British goods. From this originated his spinning wheel, as he encouraged all Indians to wear khadi (homespun cloth) instead of British-made textiles. Thus, the picture of Gandhi at his spinning wheel has become one of the iconic images of the 20th century.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was an important political and social activist who joined Gandhi as his secretary in 1929, and worked for him for 17 years. Of noble birth, the princess helped establish the AIWC in 1927 dedicated to women's empowerment in India, and in 1947 Nehru called her into the first government of India as Minister of Health.