Gandhi Memorabilia Auction: The Countdown Begins
“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one, as this (Gandhi), ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” — Albert Einstein
Today “the sacred pieces of Indian heritage” would go to the highest bidder in the USA. These are Mahatma Gandhi‘s few surviving personal effects, including a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles, a Zenith pocket watch and a pair of sandals.
Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal said Wednesday he plans to bid on several belongings of Mahatma Gandhi scheduled for auction in New York Thursday, with the goal of returning them to India, reports CNN.
” ‘The idea is to get them back as a community and donate [them] to India,’ Chatwal told CNN, adding that he would welcome other members of the Indian community in the United States to join him in his auction effort.
“Chatwal, who lives in New York, is the president and CEO of Hampshire Hotels and Resorts, a multi-national corporation based in New York. In the United States, he is a well-known supporter of Democratic Party causes and candidates. Former President Bill Clinton attended his son’s wedding in New Delhi, India, three years ago.”
“The Indian Government has made a symbolic attempt to block the sale, with the High Court in Delhi issuing an injunction – unenforceable in the United States – that outlaws the auction of the items, reports The Times of London.
“Gandhi, who was shot dead by a Hindu extremist in 1948, is revered around the world for his use of non-violent civil disobedience to help to lead India to independence. He was killed while taking a walk around the grounds of Birla House in Delhi.
“Indian diplomats held an emergency meeting yesterday in New York with Antiquorum Auctioneers, the company that intends to sell the items. Unperturbed by the diplomatic pressure, Antiquorum has insisted that the sale will go ahead.”
Meanwhile India’s Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni has told NDTV that the Indian government will do everything possible to ensure that Mahatma Gandhi’s belongings are brought back to India with or without auction.
More here, and more Gandhi videos here.
