Owner of Gandhi's belongings sets tough conditions for India
Naresh Kadyan, Secretary General, National Khadi & V.I. Board's Employees Fed. | 05.03.2009 10:00
New York, Mar 5 (PTI) The American auctioneer of Mahatma Gandhi's personal items today set tough conditions for the Indian government to stop the memorabilia from going under the hammer which include shifting priorities from military spending to health care, especially for the poor.
In the proposal sent to Indian negotiators hours before the precious items are set to be auctioned, James Otis asked India to "substantially" increase the proportion of its budget spent on health care of the poor.
The Consul General in New York has faxed the proposal to the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi which is involved in frantic last minute negotiations to stop the auction.
Personal belongings of Gandhi -- his metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, a pair of sandals and a plate and bowl -- are up for auction at Antiquorum Auctioneers here.
Besides, Otis also wants the Indian government to help offices of its embassies support educational events that use the Gandhi items to promote non-violent resistance advocated by him in 78 countries "one each for the number of years Gandhi graced us with his life on the planet".
The content of the programme, according to the proposal, would be determined by a committee appointed and chaired by Otis and Prof at George Mason University, Lester Kurtz, in consultation with Gandhian scholars from India such as Dr N Radhakrishan, Dr Savita Singh, or Dr S Jeyapragasam as well as others.
Where as the National Khadi & Village Industries Board Employees Federation founder Chairman Bhai Laxmi Das, Former Chairman of the Khadi & Village Industries Commission strongly opposed the auction of the belongings of father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. Naresh Kadyan further demands the removal of vulgarity about bapu ji from internet -
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=42e98da3ba along with the legal action against offenders.
Naresh Kadyan, Secretary General, National Khadi & V.I. Board's Employees Fed.
e-mail:
kadyan.ipfa@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.pfaharyana.in
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Owner of Gandhi's belongings sets tough conditions for India
05.03.2009 13:30
"Gandhiji himself would not have agreed to conditions. The Government of India representing the sovereign people of this republic cannot enter into such agreements where it involves specific areas of allocation of resources," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said.
Union Cultiure Minister Ambika Soni said that New Delhi is in touch with the United States and international agencies to get the articles -- metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, a pair of sandals and a plate and bowl -- back.
The Ministers' responses came after James Otis, the auctioneer, set conditions for withdrawing the items from the auction which included a "substantial" increase in India's budget spending on health care of the poor. The memorabilia is up for auction at Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York.
Sharma said he was sure that Otis is aware that New Delhi has policy initiatives with "historic" allocations of resources particularly for rural health programmes and the education of the poor besides other pro-poor schemes.
On Otis' demand that New Delhi help its embassies in promoting Gandhian ideals in 78 countries, Sharma told a television channel that New Delhi is already incorporating Gandhiji's vision.
Abhishek Kadyan, Media Adviser to OIPA in India & TV Journalist
e-mail:
67.abhishek@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.pfaharyana.in
Owner of Gandhi's belongings sets tough conditions for India
05.03.2009 16:02
"Every possible effort will be made to bring back the articles which are a part of the national heritage," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said here.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is very keen to get back the personal belongings of Gandhi which form "valuable and priceless" part of the country's heritage, he told reporters.
James Otis, the American owner of Gandhi's belongings, set new conditions that include India shift priorities from military spending to health care for the poor to take the items off the auction, but Sharma said India has already taken several "broad initiatives" for the country's welfare.
Reacting to conditions set by Otis, Sharma said, "Perhaps, he is not aware that in this country there are several broad initiatives and national missions for which adequate resources have been allocated be it rural development, education and healthcare." Otis decided to auction five Gandhi memorabilia, which include the iconic round-rimmed glasses.
"Government is making all efforts possible to ensure that the belongings are restored to their rightful owner, the Navjivan Trust, to whom the Father of the Nation had willed his movable and immovable personal belongings," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
Naresh Kadyan, Representative of OIPA in India
e-mail:
kadyan.ipfa@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.pfaharyana.in
Looking at the bigger picture who really gives a shit?
05.03.2009 16:43
And why are you posting this irrelevant piffle on Indymedia
@narchist
Owner of Gandhi's belongings sets tough conditions for India
05.03.2009 17:08
Bhai Laxmi Das, Former Chairman, KVIC (Govt. of India)
e-mail:
abgmahasangh@rediffmail.com
Owner of Gandhi's belongings sets tough conditions for India
05.03.2009 17:26
"Every possible effort will be made to bring back the articles which are a part of the national heritage," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said here.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is very keen to get back the personal belongings of Gandhi which form "valuable and priceless" part of the country's heritage, he told reporters.
James Otis, the American owner of Gandhi's belongings, set new conditions that include India shift priorities from military spending to health care for the poor to take the items off the auction, but Sharma said India has already taken several "broad initiatives" for the country's welfare.
Reacting to conditions set by Otis, Sharma said, "Perhaps, he is not aware that in this country there are several broad initiatives and national missions for which adequate resources have been allocated be it rural development, education and healthcare." Otis decided to auction five Gandhi memorabilia, which include the iconic round-rimmed glasses.
"Government is making all efforts possible to ensure that the belongings are restored to their rightful owner, the Navjivan Trust, to whom the Father of the Nation had willed his movable and immovable personal belongings," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
Abhishek Kadyan, Media Adviser to OIPA in India & TV Journalist
e-mail:
67.abhishek@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.pfaharyana.in