Gandhi's items: Govt worked on various options, it clicked

Keen to ensure that the five priceless personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi do not fall into the hands of a foreigner, Government worked on various options, one of which bore fruit as the bid was won through business tycoon Vijay Mallya.

The government was in touch with the memorabilia's owner James Otis and auction house Antiquorum Auctioneers in its efforts to prevent the items from going under the hammer in New York.

However, taking no chances, it decided, at the same time, to field an Indian on its behalf to participate in the bid by proxy in case the negotiations failed and the auction went ahead.

The strategy worked and belongings of 'bapu', including his iconic round metal-framed glasses, were retained for India.

"We have been able to procure them through the services of Mallya who was in touch with us," an elated Culture minister Ambika Soni told reporters here, hours after the items were auctioned for USd 1.8 million (approx Rs 10 crore).

She said Mallya's representative Tony Bedi, who won the auction, had been in touch with Indian Mission in New York.

Soni argued that the Indian government could not take part in the auction as there was a restraining order of the Delhi High Court.

The auction took place after a dramatic turn of events with Otis changing mind on selling the items but the auction house refusing to withdraw these from the block.

All efforts were made to prevent the auction of Gandhi's glasses, sandals, a pocket watch, a plate and a bowl, Soni said, adding "We did not want people to bid for Gandhiji's belongings as they are invaluable."

Soni said Mallya is committed to hand over these items to the Indian government.

Talking about the efforts, she said the Indian Embassy officials in the US were in touch with the US legal experts and the State Department at different levels and "we were working on their opinions and directions."

The Culture minister said the government deliberately kept the names of the private players with whom it was in touch as disclosure of their identity would have pushed up the bid.

"Every effort was made to prevent these items from getting into foreign hands during the auction," she claimed.

She said it may take about two weeks before the items could be brought here as legalities involving ownership of these items is to be sorted out.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh had himself stepped in and asked her to ensure that the items were brought back to India, the minister said.