Gandhi's items fetch USD 296,000 in commission: Auction house

New York, Mar 7 (PTI) Mahatma Gandhi's iconic round eye
glasses and other personal belongings, sold for USD 1.8
million (Rs 9.3 crore) at an auction here, fetched a whopping
USD 296,000 (RS 1.53 crore) in commission, according to
Antiquorum Auctioneers.

A day after the precious articles went under the hammer,
the auction house announced that Gandhi's pocket watch,
sandals, glasses, bowl and plate were "indisputably" the star
attraction at the auction and fetched a total of USD 2.096
million, commission included.

It said it was pleased that the objects -- bought by
Indian liquor baron Vijay Mallya -- will be returning to
India.

The bowl and plate, which came under the hammer, were
used by Gandhi for his last meal.

"The sale of the spiritual and political leader of
India's possessions had stirred worldwide interest and had
been closely watched by collectors and supporters of Gandhi
worldwide," Antiquorum Auctioneers Chairman Robert Maron said
in a statement here Friday night.

Antiquorum also said it was pleased that the articles
will be returning to India and "we know this was the hope of
the Indian people, as well as many others around the world."

Just before the auction, owner of Gandhi's items James
Otis had agreed to withdraw them from the auction but
Antiquorum did not agree. It argued that it could have a big
liability if it allowed the items to be withdrawn from the
auction as more than 30 bidders had already registered for
them and some had even sent in written bids.

As soon as the auctioneer announced the items as sold, a
large number of Indian-Americans, who had come to witness the
auction or to bid, burst into loud round of applause. The
auction activity was suspended for several minutes as the
community leaders congratulated each other.

Mallya, who had in 2004 bought Tipu Sultan's sword from a
London auction house, said he was bringing Gandhi's
memorabilia to Delhi and would be "presenting these to the
government."

However, the industrialist, who was in France, appeared
displeased at the government's claim that it had arranged for
procurement of Gandhi's personal effects through him, saying
his participation in the auction was purely a personal
decision and a matter of pride.

In New Delhi, the Indian government had earlier said it
worked on various options, one of which bore fruit as the bid
was won through Mallya in a strategy to ensure that the items
do not fall into the hands of a foreigner. PTI Team
AM