A rare Mahatma Gandhi’s letter that praises Jesus Christ is on sale for $50,000. The epic letter explains why Gandhi didn’t subscribe to the Christianity and his beliefs about the religious unity.
The content of Mahatma Gandhi’s Letter
Gandhi’s letter dated back to April 6, 1926, and was written by him in Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, India. At that time Gandhi was the leader of Indian National Congress, a political party that struggled for Indian Independence from British Rule.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote the letter to a Christian elder from the US, Milton Newberry Frantz. Gandhi who was Hindu and showed a firm belief in his religion wrote, “I have not been able to move beyond the belief that Jesus was one of the great teachers of mankind.”
He further wrote, “Do you not think that religious unity is to be had not only by a mechanical subscription to a common creed but by all respecting the creed of each?”
Gandhi also wrote a letter to Hitler which is going viral on social media.
A letter from Gandhi to Hitler, written in July 1939. pic.twitter.com/vzmurzOWj1
— War History Online (@WarHistoryOL) 24 February 2018
Why Didn’t Gandhi Subscribe to Christianity?
Gandhi’s letter to Newberry Frantz also tells us why he didn’t subscribe to Christianity despite his respect for all the religions. He wrote, “Dear Friend, I have your letter. I am afraid it is not possible for me to subscribe to the creed you sent me. The subscriber is made to believe that the highest manifestation of the unseen reality was Jesus Christ. In spite of all my efforts, I have not been able to feel the truth of that statement.”
According to media reports, the US-based Raab Collection bought the letter from a South American man and evaluated it on all the parameters to check it was a genuine Gandhi’s letter.
“This is one of the finest letters on religion that Gandhi ever wrote. Our research discloses no other letter of Gandhi mentioning Jesus to have ever reached the public market,” said the Raab Collection reportedly.
Gandhi’s Teachings about Religion
No wonders that a historical figure like Mahatma Gandhi who was the custodian of non-violent struggle could have always preached about the respect for all the religions. Gandhi whose hunger strike is still quoted as an example of how long can human live without food and water, was indeed an inspirational leader. His teachings taught the humanity a message of unison, mutual respect, and harmony.
Gandhi’s letter about his belief in Jesus Christ and unity of all the religions is not the only artifact that went on auction. Earlier, his another letter that he wrote to the British government in 1943 was sold for £115,000.
