Gandhi’s meagre musuem pieces
Some MPs are demanding that these items should be brought back by govt.
By ET Bureau |
In a letter addressed to his grand niece-in-law and aide Manu in May 1947, Mahatma Gandhi had said, ���At a time of such distress and when prices run high, you have given me a glassful of juice of four mangoes which cost two and a half rupees. How can I possibly drink it?��� It is ironical then that 62 years later, a collection of his meagre possessions ��� comprising a silver pocketwatch, a pair of round, rimmed spectacles, sandals, a plate and a bowl ��� will be coming under the hammer in New York in March at a floor price of $20,000-30,000. According to Antiquorum Auctioneers (who, incidentally are watch specialists, so Gandhi���s sterling Zenith fob is probably their focus) these motley items of Mahatmabilia were individually picked up by a collector ��� reportedly American ��� from various heirs and are now being sold as a single lot, much to the annoyance of the guardians of Gandhigiri back in India. Piquant indeed, but not more so than the spectacle of Indian MPs demanding that these items should be bought up and brought back by the government to be placed in Gandhi Smriti.
Given that there���s a cash crunch the world over, and the government is also battling with balancing the budget, may we suggest that each member of Parliament and state assemblies contribute a token sum from their salary towards a fund to bring back these symbols of Gandhi and, if it���s not too much trouble, also take Gandhi���s almost Obamaesque pronouncement ��� ���Be the change you want to be��� ��� as their motto henceforth? They should also spare a thought for the significance of the auctioneers��� statement that these plain items were more valuable as Gandhi had so few possessions anyway. Coming as it does, however, so soon after scenes of mayhem in several state assemblies, this demand begs the question of whether our representatives are actually underlining the fact that Gandhi and his symbols are best relegated to museum displays, to be remembered only on October 2 and January 30, rather than be emulated.
Given that there���s a cash crunch the world over, and the government is also battling with balancing the budget, may we suggest that each member of Parliament and state assemblies contribute a token sum from their salary towards a fund to bring back these symbols of Gandhi and, if it���s not too much trouble, also take Gandhi���s almost Obamaesque pronouncement ��� ���Be the change you want to be��� ��� as their motto henceforth? They should also spare a thought for the significance of the auctioneers��� statement that these plain items were more valuable as Gandhi had so few possessions anyway. Coming as it does, however, so soon after scenes of mayhem in several state assemblies, this demand begs the question of whether our representatives are actually underlining the fact that Gandhi and his symbols are best relegated to museum displays, to be remembered only on October 2 and January 30, rather than be emulated.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
