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Gandhi items auction set for nail biting finish

US based hotelier of Indian origin, Sant Singh Atwal, has said he will bid for the Mahatma memorabilia that goes under the hammer at a New York auction organised by curators Antiquorum on Thursday.

Atwal said, he would bring the Mahatma’s personal belongings back to India, this even as the current owner of the collection, James Otis, handed over to Indian diplomats a list of demands in lieu of which he would pull the goods off the bid-list and surrender them to India.

The goods include several of Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings that have huge sentimental value in India, a country that reveres the doyen of peace as the father of the nation.

Otis demands an increase in India’s budget spending on health care for the country’s poor and provision of financial and official support from Indian embassies tat would use the Gandhi items to promote Gandhian non-violent resistance in 78 countries around the world.

According to Otis, the list of 78 countries signifies one for each year of the late Mahatma’s life.

Gandhi’s personal belongings that are to be auctioned include a Zenith pocket watch, a pair of steel-rimmed spectacles, a pair of sandals along with an eating bowl and plate.

Indian government is also busy ensuring that Gandhiji’s belongings don’t go under the hammer.

Chatwal says he will go all out to save the priceless memorabilia and bring it to India, where it belongs.

He added that there was no progress in talks with the owner or the auction house, which have refused to sell the items to India at a reserve price.

Making clear his strategy, Atwal said “whatever is needed will be paid,” as the aim was to bring the items home.

With India clearly indicating plans to go all-out to seek custody of the Gandhi items, the situation is sure to see the owner and the auction house laugh all the way to the bank, unless Indian diplomats could word in a strong enough plea for an American Court to stay the auction.

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