Gandhi's Possessions Sold at Auction For $1.8 Million
Mahatma Gandhi's glasses, pocket watch, sandals, plate and bowl sold at an Antiquorum USA auction for $1.8 million.
The New York Timessays the buyer was an Indian businessman who intends to return the items to India for public display.
The buyer was identified as Vijay Mallya, an Indian liquor and airline executive who owns the company that makes Kingfisher beer. A representative for Mr. Mallya, Tony Bedi, did the bidding and later announced that the belongings would be returned to India for public display, but it was not clear whether they would be turned over to the government, as some officials have demanded.
Indian officials had maintained that the auction- scheduled to be completed on Thursday afternoon in Manhattan-was illegal, but also that they were continuing to negotiate with the owner, James Otis, over a possible resolution. Ultimately, the government and Mr. Otis were not successful in halting the auction.
India protested the sale of Gandhi's possessions and was in discussions with the seller. The owner of the items had tried to cancel the sale at the last minute to no avail. Katie Couric explains:
