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Just two days away from the hammer

PHOTOS: AFP

Mahatma Gandhi’s belongings on display at the Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York. —

New York/New Delhi: The controversial auction of Mahatma Gandhi’s five personal belongings, including the iconic round glasses, will take place on March 5, a U.S. auction house said on Monday, even as the Government of India intensified efforts to prevent the items from going under the hammer and acquire them.

Gandhiji’s metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, a pair of sandals and a plate and bowl will go on auction on Thursday and are expected to fetch between $20,000 and $30,000, a spokesperson of New York-based Antiquorum Auctioneers said.

The spokesperson claimed that they have not been contacted by any representative of the Government of India.

But according to informed sources, senior officials of the Indian consulate in New York are holding negotiations with the auction house as part of an attempt to prevent it from putting the items on auction, which triggered a public outcry in India.

The Antiquorum is so far unwilling to halt the auction but efforts were on to persuade it, a senior official of Culture Ministry told PTI in New Delhi.

The Ministry is closely coordinating with the Law and External Affairs Ministries to stall the auction.

Fearing that the auction house may not heed to India’s request, the government is working on other options, which include a legal route. “We are seriously examining other means, including legal route to stop the auction,” the official said.

The Culture Ministry officials on Monday met the senior Law Ministry officials to firm up the legal course of action. — PTI

PTI reports from London:

Mr. Gandhi also asked Britain to return the famous Koh-i-noor diamond, which was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850.

He urged the Indian authorities to do more for the return of other treasures.

“If the jewels of Windsor were held by an Arab sheikh, then Britain wouldn’t really like that. I’d love to see it [Koh-i-noor] back in India. Returning it would be atonement for the colonial past,” he was quoted as saying by The Times.

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Just two days away from the hammer

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