Saturday, March 7, 2009

Gandhi Items Are Sold for $1.8 Million

Items that belonged to revered Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi were sold at a auction to UB group chairman Mr. Vijay Mallya for $1.8 million on Thursday.

The seller James Otis had tried at the last minute to withdraw the items -- Gandhi's trademark wire-rimmed glasses, worn leather sandals, a pocket watch(given to him by Indira Gandhi) and a metal bowl and plate -- after the planned sale caused uproar in India.But the auction in New York at Antiquorum Auctioneer went ahead despite protests by the Indian government.

Mallya himself was not present at the auction, his representative Tony Bedi did the bidding for him."I am sure all Indians will be pleased that these Gandhi items will be coming home," Bedi told reporters.He also said that Mr. Mallya will donate them to India for public display.

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