Indian Govt. saves Gandhi manuscript from auction

The Indian government has rescued a rare manuscript of a letter "Father of the Nation" Mahatma Gandhi wrote 19 days before his assassination in 1948 from being auctioned by British auction house Christie's, paying an undisclosed sum for it.

"The government of India is in possession of the manuscript (of the piece) Mahatma Gandhi had written 19 days before his assassination pleading for tolerance of Muslims in India (for his journal Harijan)," PTI quoted a senior High Commission official in London as saying, July 3.

When asked whether any money was paid for acquiring the document, he said the government negotiated with the auctioneers and representatives of late Albin Schram of Switzerland, an Austrian lawyer famous for his treasure trove of letters of some of the world's leading figures, who owned it.

The conditions of the transaction "have to be kept in confidence," he said.

The document, which was withdrawn by auctioneers Christie's after negotiations with the Indian government, was part of an extensive collection and a reserve price of £9,000 to £12,000 pounds was set for it.

The sale, which had been slated for July 3, was cancelled when the Indian government established that the ownership of the manuscript lies with the Ahmedabad–based Navjiwan Trust.

Reports say the Indian government's possible argument could be that Gandhi willed all writings to Navjivan Trust and the current ownership is therefore illegal.

The government acted in a similar manner in 1997 and successfully acquired another set of Gandhi's manuscript.

Christie's, which had billed the auction of the manuscript as a major event, said the executors of Albin Schram had agreed to withdraw the manuscript. "We are pleased to have facilitated the negotiations which have resulted in an important historical record returning to India," Dr. Amin Jaffer, International Director of Asian Art at Christie's said.

"Christie's is acting as agents behind the vendors, facilitating the sellers and this should result as a national treasure returning to India," Christie's spokesperson Mathew Patton said.

The Indian High Commission declined to be drawn into the "modalities" of the proposed acquisition.

"We're happy that at our request Christie's have agreed to withdraw the manuscript and we look forward to completing the process of acquiring this important manuscript on behalf of the Government of India expeditiously," it said.

The Indian government was greatly relieved to have secured the document finally especially after news that the document would be put up for auction sent the government in a tizzy, triggering immediate reaction from Gandhi supporters who urged the government to intervene in the matter immediately.

Pacifist Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who played a leading role in securing India's independence from Britain, is well known and loved by millions in India.

Recently, the United Nations declared that it will observe the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as the International Day of Non–Violence every year.