For the city-based businessman Jayprakash Sarda’s (42), collecting memorabilia connected to Mahatma Gandhi has been a passion since he was nine. No wonder, today he is the owner of several original letters related to Mahatma Gandhi, newspapers published before January 31,1948, an original copy of ‘Navjeevan’, several copies of ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’ magazines edited by Mahatma Gandhi, stamps brought out by 100 countries, coins issued on Gandhi and many more.
“At the age of 9, I started collecting stamps on Gandhi. When I visited Mumbai when I was 19, someone showed me old newspapers that were related to Mahatma Gandhi. Out of curiosity, I got those newspapers and later I decided to collect newspapers and documents of pre-Independence era and also those prior to January 30, 1948. So, I started visiting auction houses and places where these things are sold.”
Among the documents he owns, Mr. Jayprakash Sarda has an arrest order issued by the Minister of Bombay Presidency during Gandhi’s Dandi March in 1930, correspondence between the British Government and some dignitaries and documents relating to Gandhi’s death. “I also have a gazette notification declaring October 2, his birth anniversary, as a national holiday,” he says.
Showing a cigar label, Mr. Sarda says: “A British Cigar company had brought out cigar pack with a image of Gandhi to belittle him… I have that too.”
Expressing his gratitude to his family, in particular his elder brother Praveen, for backing him financially, he says: “Money is not that important… these treasures are worth more. I am the only private collector who has over 280 original photographs of Gandhi, both individual and with other freedom fighters, including Madan Mohan Malaviya, Sarojini Naidu, Acharya Kripalani and Subhash Chandra Bose”.
Mr. Sarda has already exhibited some of his collections at public places like Metro Rangoli Centre. “I am looking for a bigger platform to reach the public,” he adds.
