Rare Oil Painting Of Mahatma Gandhi Sells For Rs 1.7 Crore In London

British artist Clare Leighton's "Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi" sold for three times its estimated value of 50,000-70,000 pounds, approximately Rs 58 lakh to Rs 81 lakh. The portrait was the best-selling item in the Travel and Exploration online sale.

Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale, said the special artwork had never before been offered at auction, adding it was a testament to Gandhi's power to connect with people far and wide, and presented a lasting document of an important moment in history.

"With the portrait having remained in the artist's collection until her death in 1989, after which it was passed down through her family, it is no wonder that this work sparked such interest across the globe," Ms Demery said in a statement.

In 1974, when it was on public exhibition, the portrait was attacked with a knife. According to the artist's family, a Hindu right-wing extremist allegedly used a knife to damage the artwork. The image shows signs of repair in several places.