Otis ready to 'negotiate' with India other rare items of Bapu

Dharamsala, Mar 29 (PTI) US-based collector James Otis,
who was in the news recently for auctioning a set of Mahatma
Gandhi's personal belongings, has claimed he has rarer items
of the father of the nation including his blood drops which he
was ready to "negotiate" with the Indian government to return.

These articles include the original of 'Harijan', a
journal edited by Bapu, cotton clothes spun by him and his
blood drops, Otis who was spotted roaming at Mcleodganj last
evening told a section of the media here.

The 45-year-old Otis, grandson of the owner of the
reputed Otis Lift Company, said he has blood drops of the
Mahatma collected from the site of his assassination.

He said an Indian had given Gandhijee's ashes and blood
drops to a Professor in George Mason University of Virginia.

Otis, who had come here to meet the Tibetan Spiritual
leader the Dalai Lama, said he has other personal items of
Gandhijee like the original of the 'Harijan' journal edited by
him and about 400 photographs of his collected from all over
the world.

Besides, he said he has cotton clothes spun by Bapu and a
few signed letters by him to friends and associates.

On March five last on Otis' behalf a slew of articles
belonging to Mahatma Gandhi including his iconic steel-rimmed
spectacles, a pair of sandals, a pocket watch, a bowl and a
plate were auctioned in the US which was bought by India's
liquor baron Vijay Mallya for 1.8 million US dollars.

Otis who failed to meet the Dalai Lama and returned to
Delhi on Sunday said he was a great admirer and follower of
Mahatama Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the Dalai Lama whom
he described as three pillars of peace in the world.

Claiming to have been influenced by Mahatma Gandhi since
his university days, the US businessman said inspired by
Gandhiji's movement in South Africa, he had also lauched a
non-violent movement at the University of Texas when he was
18.

Otis said inspired by the 'Maun Vratas' (observance of
silence) by Mahatma Gandhi, he has been observing it on
Sundays for the past nine years.

He said he has around 12,000 photographs belonging to
other world personalities like Nelson Mandela, Augui Chi and
Cheaveg.

He also claimed to be in possession of a rare painting of
Ashoka the great.

Dalai Lama's secretary Chhime R Chhioekyapa confirmed
that there was no meeting between the famous Tibetan monk and
the US-based businessman and collector of antiquities.

Otis distributed refreshments last evening to Tibetan
protestors who walked for six km from Mcleodganj to Darhi
ground on the outskirts of the town. PTI CORR
SAK
NNNN