A pinch of soil and blood-stained blades of grass from the place where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 was sold on Tuesday for £10,000 at an auction here.
The auction also saw many other Gandhi memorabilia going under the hammer including his iconic round-rimmed glasses that fetched far more than the estimated price.
In all, the Gandhiji-related items fetched over £100,000 pounds in the auction by the Shropshire-based auctioneer, Mullock’s.
The memorabilia included a pair of Gandhiji’s round-rimmed glasses, charkha, a 10 inch 78 rpm Columbia disc of Gandhiji giving his spiritual message signed by him, and original photographs of Gandhiji visiting London in 1931.
Also in the collection sold were letters in English by Gandhiji to Raghavan, Sgt. N.E.R. Poduwal in Rangoon, letters by Gandhiji in Gujarati and a prayer book in Gujarati.
The pair of Gandhiji’s glasses had a guide price of £10,000 but sold for £34,000.
Kevin Bland, financial controller at Mullock’s, said the unnamed telephone bidder who bought the spectacles also spent £26,500 on a wooden charkha. The same bidder bought his prayer book for £10,500 pounds.
“We are not surprised that the collection sold. We were confident because there was a lot of interest in the items, but it is always a pleasure, on behalf of the vendor, to exceed the guide prices,” Mr. Bland said.
He said that after adding fees and VAT, the collection went for a total of £1,28,000.
The soil and blades of grass were reported to have been collected by one P.P. Nambiar.
The description of the item says: “The casket comes with a letter of provenance by P.P. Nambiar dated September 24th 1996, saying that the recipient: ...has today received the most sacred of all relics a fraction of the pinch of soil I collected on 30 January 1948 from the spot where the Father of our nation M.K. Gandhi fell to the bullets of his assassin...”
Gandhiji’s glasses were bought in London around 1890 when he studied Law. The item is described as “corroded with age”, and comes with the original felt bearing the name of H Cannam Optician 23 St Aldate Street Gloucester.
Keywords: Mullock's, Gandhi memorabilia, auction
Why can't the Government of India directly buy all those personal items, souvenirs and mementos that are connected with the Father of our nation through the auction process or prevent them from going under hammer in the first place and bring them back here so that they can be preserved for posterity. Attributing commercial value to memorabilia connected with a person who was uniquely instrumental in bringing non violence as a means of struggle to effect not only political but also for social,economical and personal change through a process of non cooperation and non violent intervention, he as a symbol of peace is a champion and harbinger of self respect and self confidence to the Indian psyche as it had been reeling under slave mentality for very many years. The government is always caught napping or is grossly insensitive when it comes to preserving and upholding the historicity that defines the ethos and culture of our nation.
It is sad day. It was sad that Mr. Nambiar collected this blood when he knows very well that the remains of the body are sacred and has to be immeresed in Ganga. It is sad that people are trading on personal accessories of Mahatma who renounced every material possesions he has had. Man is getting very weird and indulges in meaningless aand shamful acts.
It's so nostalgic and moving to hear about these things again. Thanks to The Hindu for reminding us of the mahatma in these corrupt and saddening times. May his soul rest in peace. May he give us all the courage and perseverance to fight for ourselves as he did for the country.
Gandhiji's possesions such as his spectacles, wooden Charkha and the prayer book are eligible for an auction but selling his blood on a grass blade is something pretty insensitive! In my strong opinion, it is unfair, rude and disrespectful to the great soul, who was assasinated. He was killed, and he didn't leave the world naturally!
It's a shame to add commercial value to something this precious which i think, is allowed to carry only a sentimental value to itself. Why, donate it to a museum!
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