A rare portrait of Mahatma Gandhi by Clare Leighton in 1931 was sold in London for €176,626, double its original estimate.

The auction organized by Bonhams was an unexpected success, with the portrait of Gandhi fetching €176,626, more than twice its original estimate. The painting, believed to be the only oil portrait painted during Gandhi's lifetime, was created in 1931, when artist Clare Leighton met the Indian leader in London. The portrait has had a tumultuous history, and was attacked by a Hindu extremist in the 70s. Gandhi, assassinated in 1948, remains a controversial figure in Indian history.