Auction off, India to get Gandhi letter

It is praiseworthy that the Indian government is seriously working on its options to retrieve the article written by Mahatma Gandhi that is being auctioned in London. Gandhi is the father of the Indian nation and so India must rightly claim any relic associa-ted with him. In order to affirm the exalted status of the Mahatma to our nation, the Indian government must ensure that all materials related to Gandhi remain within the country.

In the context of ongoing communal clashes in the country, the article that will be up for auction pleads for religious tolerance. It is extremely important. It was written for the Harijan newspaper, of which Gandhi was the editor, 19 days before he was assassinated in January 1948.

Throughout the world, Gandhi is seen as an Indian apostle who preached harmony and non-violence. He advocated the co-existence of all communities. Gandhi's ideals are as relevant to India today as they were during his times. There is increasing unrest in the country with growing income disparities among people. With corruption ostensibly at an all-time high, it is not a mere coincidence that Gandhian values are increasingly gaining appeal among Indian youth. The Munnabhai films have proved the extent of the popularity of Gandhi's philosophy among people.

The government must leave no stone unturned in its attempts to obtain the article. It must lobby with those trying to make a fortune by auctioning the article to rightfully hand it over to the Indian government. If that does not work, it should acquire the article by either bidding for it itself or by convincing rich and successful Indians to acquire it and hand it over, in the larger interest of the country. Retrieving the article that is a relic of Gandhi would indeed go a long way in reinforcing the Mahatma as the father of our country. It would also symbolise India's commitment towards his philosophy and teachings.



on july 3

LONDON: In a last-minute move, Christie’s said on Monday it was calling off the auction — scheduled for Tuesday — of Mahatma Gandhi’s seven-page manuscript so that the Indian government can acquire it.

A Christie’s spokesman told TOI that the auction house was "very pleased to have facilitated the negotiations" (between the Indian government and the vendor). He added "this is not the first time Christie’s has withdrawn a listed item".

Harsh Jain, counsellor at the Indian high commission, said: "We had been in touch with Christie’s all of last week and they facilitated the withdrawal. We expect to complete the purchase expeditiously."

Christie’s said the "vendor", the executors of Switzerland-based collector Albin Schram, had "agreed to withdraw the Gandhi manuscript from auction so that it may be acquired by the Indian government".