Govt to acquire Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings from US

The government on Friday decided to ensure Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings, including his famous metal rimmed glasses, do not go under the hammer in the US next month and bring them back to the country.

The government today decided to ensure Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings, including his famous metal rimmed glasses, do not go under the hammer in the United States next month and bring them back to the country.

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There are five personal belongings of Gandhi in the list of auction proposed to be held on March 4-5 at the Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York including sandals, a pocket watch and some utensils.

“Whatever can be done is being done to ensure that articles are not auctioned by involving all concerned stakeholders,” Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni told PTI.

The Culture Ministry has arrived at the decision to intervene after extensive consultations with the Ministries of External Affairs, Home, Law and Finance.

“Our embassy in Washington and Consulate in New York have been told to actively pursue the matter”, said a senior Culture Ministry official.

As per the action plan, government has devised a three-pronged strategy to acquire these articles from the US.

“We are approaching the owners not to auction these articles and requesting to offer them to the government on the basis of honour and due acknowledgement,” said the official.