Handwritten letters between Gandhi and close friend Hermann Kallenbach, which some believe points to a romantic relationship between the two, has gone on display in India.

Although these suggestions have never been proven, they have stirred up a huge controversy in India where many people deny the possibility Gandhi could have been gay.

The letters went on show today (30 January), the 65th anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination, the AP reports.

One of the letters from Gandhi to Kallenbach is addressed to ‘My dear Lower House’ and signed ‘Sinly yours, Upper House.’

Speaking to news agency Agence France-Presse, the chief of the National Archives Mushirul Hasan said they are original letters and only a sample of the correspondence.

‘There is a lot that is new and significant,’ he said.

Gandhi lived with Kallenbach, a German-born Jewish architect, in Johannesburg for two years from 1907.

The archive of letters and photos belonging to Kallenbach was purchased by the Indian government last year, just before they were due to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in London.

Hasan denies the collection had been screened and controversial letters left out, saying the archivist and Indian government had a ‘marvellous relationship.’

The relationship between Gandhi and the wealthy South African was most recently chronicled in a book by Joseph Lelyveld, in which he controversially suggested Gandhi was bisexual.

Raj Bala Jain, part of the National Archives team, said their friendship had been misinterpreted.

‘I think Gandhi was very normal and above such things,’ she said of the man who took a vow of celibacy in his 30s.

‘We have displayed what we thought was most interesting.’