ALS, in Gujarati, both sides of a 3.5 x 5.5 postcard, no date, but postmarked August 24, 1932. Letter written from Yeravada Prison to his friend Dr. Behram Navroji Khambatta in Gujurati. In part: “I have your letter. Do send your ointment, I will try it. But I should tell you that I have tried iodine for a long time. If the ointment contains some other useful ingredients, it may be worth trying. What a poor memory I have that I forgot that we had Vidya treated by you. It is true that one should not have any illness even in old age. But that can be expected only of a person who has refrained from bodily pleasures throughout his life. But I have indulged in plenty of them. Only one was left, namely that I never had my hands massaged before going to bed. That is why I remember you every day at night. Blessings to you both from Bapu.” In fine condition, with uniform toning, and several small stamps and notations.
Suffering from arthritis at the time of this writing, Gandhi’s reference to having tried iodine to relive his pain relates to the healing effects of natural iodine in sea water, which some says relieves arthritic discomfort. Such physical pain, however, was likely compounded by the stress of his new civil disobedience campaigns launched against the British this same year. Arrested twice, the Mahatma fasted for long periods several times, which proved in the end to be effective measures against the British. Although he is deified today, in reality, Gandhi was certainly aware of his shortcomings, a fact to which he freely admits here. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
