Mallya emerges as surprise buyer of Gandhi memorabilia

Hours after high drama and frenzied bidding, Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings were bought for $1.8 million (Rs 9.4 crore) by liquor-to-airlines industrialist Vijay Mallya, who said he “bid for the country”, at the auction after last-ditch attempts by India to stall the sale of the memorabilia fell through. 

Just before the auction, owner of the items James Otis had agreed to withdraw these from the auction. But the auction house did not agree, arguing that it could have a big liability if it allowed the items to be withdrawn, since more than 30 bidders had registered for these and some had even sent in written bids.

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

The leaders expressed relief that the promise of keeping Gandhi's glasses, sandals, pocket watch, plate and a bowl in India has been fulfilled. But the sale would take two weeks to finalise. The items will be kept with the auctioneer for two weeks to resolve any claims. The items were sold by Antiquorum Auctioneers to Vijay Mallya, chairman of UB Group, said Tony Bedi. Mallya will donate them to India for public display, Bedi said.

It is said that Mallya and Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal had come to an understanding, before the bidding, that they would not bid against each other and were in contact with each other over the telephone while the bid was on. 

Four years ago, Mallya was involved in another controversial auction when he bid for the sword of Tipu Sultan, the eighteenth century ruler of Mysore, for Rs 4 crore to bring it back to India.

Earlier, speaking to reporters here, Otis said: "In the last few hours, I have decided, in the light of the controversy, not to sell Gandhi's personal items." 

Otis' move came after intense negotiations between him and Indian diplomats at the Indian Consulate in New York. Otis earlier in the day set new conditions, including that India shift priorities from military spending to health care, especially for the poor, if he was to call off the auction. 

In 2007, India managed to obtain another piece of Gandhi memorabilia — a manuscript of an article he wrote — after persuading the auctioneers to withdraw the document from sale.