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3 Replies
1375 Views 3 Replies
I am sure many of you have heard about the news-making auction ::
"Gandhi auction" may go ahead…
Antiquorum Auctioneers, New York, has not been approached by any party so far for the purchase of Mahatma Gandhi's belongings, which will go under the hammer on March 4-5, sources in the auction house said.
A spokesperson of the auctioneers said the auction house was unlikely to entertain any request for a negotiated price of the belongings and would like anyone interested in buying the items to make a public bid online or physically.
The Government of India on Friday had decided to ensure Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings, including glasses, sandals, a pocket watch, plate and bowl, do not go under the hammer. The Indian embassy in Washington and consulate in New York have been told to actively pursue the matter.
The government wants to approach the owners first and the auctioneers next to arrive at a negotiated price for these articles. Failing to do so, it will request an NRI or the local India-American Association to participate in the auction, purchase the items and donate them to the government.
Tushar Gandhi, the Mahatma's great-grandson, has already started raising funds to participate in the auction and some leading industrialists have also voiced their interest to TOI in bidding for the belongings.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Gandhi_auction_may_go_ahead_/articleshow/4206109.cms
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I would like to know your takes on this news !
Thanks for sharing this topic.
I feel there are more burning things on our government's platter than to worry about Gandhiji's belongings. If the auctioneers have obtained the said items in a fair way and want to auction it in their country, there is hardly anything that we as a nation should feel about it. But all said and done, we are an emotional country. That is why you see so much of hue and cry over this issue.
I do not feel its wrong if an NRI or an NRI Association spends their money and gifts it to the government of India, but I am dead against spending the Tax payer's money to buy those belongings. I am sure even Gandhiji would have been against it, had he been alive. Such was his simplicity.
Its election time, why dont one of the so called political parties participate in the auction and buy them and dedicate it to the nation ? :) I am sure they wont do it.
Hi Harish!
Thanks a lot for your reply! which has spoken out my mind about this news!
When I think or hear about this news!!! i hust dont get it!!! what are we fighting for? why is media making such a big issue out of it?!
I just posted this forum, hoping to get more replies & ideas on it! but...alas...
Why should we wake up to lack of security, only when something really bad happens...like all the bombings we had???
Why do the man-holes get repaired, only when some one has an accident & get severly hurt or maybe dies !!!
Why do the corrupt politicians' reports come out only at the time of elections...and that will be done only by the opposition parties!!! does it take 4 years for them to find out who is corrupt!?!?
Why should a foreigner put terms & conditions to return those back, only if Indian Govt promises for a good medical & education support?!
(I appreciate his thoughts!)
I do respect & agree that Gandhiji was, is & will be nation's pride & inspiration to all the peace loving people around the world !
but possessing or not possessing these belongings does not help us, specially in this time of crisis, with all the economy drops, layoffs & recession....
These were there with the current owner for so many years! did anything happen just because they were not in India!?...
or, in another word, is anything going to happen if it is returned back!?
This is a temporary rush & fight, for something which has been called "national pride"...
As you said, Gandhiji, had he been here now, would not only disagree with spending so much money! but also be very very sad, to see that his dreams & goals has just been molded in acts like these! not in reality!
This is an issue which can be & should be solved by the diplomats, if they really want it back!...
Harish, dont you think the politicians have spent enough on their campaigns??
Hi Harish!
Thanks a lot for your reply! which has spoken out my mind about this news!... See Diana's complete reply
Hi Diana, looks like we are the only two members who are interested to talk on this topic. Others, am sure are afraid to speak out their minds in public. :)
Well, I dont care in expressing myself. yes, the politicians have time and again used us. thats the only truth in our country. And they are not to be blamed. We have allowed them to divide us on the basis of regions, states, religion, castes, gender, etc etc. You name it and we have it in our country. You are everything but an Indian. When there is a Mumbai carnage like thing, all educated people are up in arms for two weeks, then they go back to their shell. You can see that from the response to this topic itself. Can you believe that my ITS HUMOR TIME column has got 10 pages of responses and sadly on this topic only two members are discussing national issues.
Well the latest news is that Vijay Mallya has purchased the items, which is fair. I am happy the money didnt go from the Tax Payer's account.
Coming to your question, there is no limit to the amount of money they spend on campaigning. The amount that a politician has to spend and give account for is supposed to be a transparent one. He/she has to declare it with expense bills. In reality, its a joke. They end up spending 1000 times more than the actual sum they are supposed to be spending as per the direction of the EC. Did you read the drama behind the appointment of the CEC ? Our erstwhile president just signed on a document cos it came from the government. Had it been Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, am sure he would have sent it back for re-consideration. Well, thats the reason he is not there.
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