Gandhi memorabilia to be auctioned in New York

MPs urge Gandhi sale intervention


Gandhi's simple lifestyle inspired a generation of Indians
A number of Indian MPs are calling for Mahatma Gandhi's personal possessions, due for auction in New York next month, to be returned to India.
Mahatma Gandhi's spectacles, which he once said gave him "the vision to free India", a pair of his sandals and his pocket watch are among the items.
MPs across Indian parties have said that all efforts should be made to retrieve the possessions.
Auctioneers have put an estimate of £30,000 ($42,000) on the items.
Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York will stage the sale on 4-5 March.
'Worldwide interest'
The BBC's Paddy Clark says Gandhi holds a unique status in India as the leader of the independence movement against British rule and the planned sale of his personal effects has created some concern.
One minister suggested the government should enter the auction and buy the items, which he described as part of India's heritage.

MPs say all efforts should be made to retrieve the articles
Mani Shankar Aiyer told the Times of India: "It would be a pity if these items were to pass into private hands abroad and leave India bereft of an important part of his legacy."
Former Speaker and Shiv Sena MP Manohar Joshi told the paper: "The persons who own these articles should be contacted to see if they are willing to give them to India, perhaps for a price."
The auctioneers say there has been worldwide interest in the sale, particularly as Gandhi's ascetic philosophy meant he had very few personal possessions.
They think the items could go for much more than the estimate.
In 2007, India managed to obtain another piece of Gandhi memorabilia - a manuscript of an article he wrote - after persuading the auctioneers to withdraw the document from sale.
Gandhi's modest lifestyle - epitomised by his simple white robe and few possessions - helped to inspire a generation of Indians to peaceful resistance against British rule in the 1930s.
The glasses, sandals and watch, along with a bowl and plate, are owned by an unnamed collector and all have letters of authenticity.
Gandhi presented the spectacles to Indian army colonel HA Shiri Diwan Nawabin in the 1930s, after he had asked the great leader for inspiration.
The Zenith pocket watch, made in about 1910, was given to Gandhi's grand-niece, Abha Gandhi, who was his assistant for some years.
Gandhi was pictured wearing the pocket watch and it is expected to be the highlight of the auction.
The bowl and plate were also gifts to his grand-niece.
The sandals were given to a British army officer in 1931 before talks in London about Indian self-rule.
Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, aged 78, by a Hindu radical. Source

School Principal, Thomas Malancheruvilla, arrested for disrespecting the National Anthem

ABVP activists ransack missionary school over national anthem
2 Feb 2009, 1703 hrs IST, PTI

BHOPAL: Protesting against the alleged insult to the National Anthem in a missionary school in the Govindpura area of the city, Ahkhil Bhartiya

Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers today created ruckus in the school by indulging in violence, police said.

The ABVP workers staged a demonstration before the school for allegedly insulting the National Anthem during the Republic Day function on January 26.

As the ABVP activists indulged in ransacking the school property, police cane-charged them to disperse from the spot and arrested nearly 15 of its workers, Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) Jaideep Prasad said.

Police also arrested the school Principal, Thomas Malancheruvilla on the issue of allegedly disrespecting the National Anthem, the SP said.

Two Godhra Accused Gujarat ministers declared absconders

Gujarat ministers declared absconders
3 Feb 2009, 0323 hrs IST, TNN

AHMEDABAD: Minister of state for women and child development and higher education, Maya Kodnani, and a senior VHP functionary Jaideep Patel on

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Kodnani, who is also a practising ophthalmologist, has filed two bail pleas — for the Naroda Gaam and Naroda Patia cases in which all 95 persons were killed after the Godhra carnage. Patel has filed for bail only in the Naroda Gaam case. Both the leaders had been evading arrest for the last one week, said investigating officer of SIT, PL Mall.

The SIT recorded Kodnani and Patel’s statements in December but they were found to contradict statements of witnesses. Kodnani and Patel had claimed they were not present in Naroda when the riots were on and the allegations against them were politically motivated. Read it all