Mahatma Gandhi's possessions went under the hammer but they look like they are heading to India. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya bid and won Gandhi's memorabilia at a NewYork auction on Thursday for Rs 9 crore.
And as the news spread, a relieved UPA government proudly claimed that they had got back Bapu's belongings with Mallya's help.
But the fact has been disputed by the king of good times who says he did it all on his own.
"I got it back. No one got in touch with me. Honourable minister Ms Ambika Soni's statement that we were in touch is wrong," he said while speaking to NDTV.
However, Mallya has promised to donate the entire collection to India.
He beat bidders from all over the world including a large number of NRIs. His closest competitor was from Britain at $1.75 million.
"I wish the items had been sold for a lot more because I believe that they were priceless. But they were sold for quite a bit; the watch went as the most expensive watch ever sold," James Otis, the seller of the items said.
But Mallya cannot bring back the items just yet. The auction house will keep them until the US Justice Department takes a decision on a Delhi High Court order to stay the bidding.
So the items will either be returned to India at no cost, or if the auction is upheld, Mallya will bring them home.
And for the Mahatma's family, which hit out at relatives who sold Bapu's belongings in the first place, there is a sense of relief.
Now that India has got back Gandhi's legacy, it is perhaps time to ask whether we have done enough to retain his vision for India.
And as the news spread, a relieved UPA government proudly claimed that they had got back Bapu's belongings with Mallya's help.
But the fact has been disputed by the king of good times who says he did it all on his own.
"I got it back. No one got in touch with me. Honourable minister Ms Ambika Soni's statement that we were in touch is wrong," he said while speaking to NDTV.
However, Mallya has promised to donate the entire collection to India.
He beat bidders from all over the world including a large number of NRIs. His closest competitor was from Britain at $1.75 million.
"I wish the items had been sold for a lot more because I believe that they were priceless. But they were sold for quite a bit; the watch went as the most expensive watch ever sold," James Otis, the seller of the items said.
But Mallya cannot bring back the items just yet. The auction house will keep them until the US Justice Department takes a decision on a Delhi High Court order to stay the bidding.
So the items will either be returned to India at no cost, or if the auction is upheld, Mallya will bring them home.
And for the Mahatma's family, which hit out at relatives who sold Bapu's belongings in the first place, there is a sense of relief.
Now that India has got back Gandhi's legacy, it is perhaps time to ask whether we have done enough to retain his vision for India.
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