Now I also feel like adding my 2 bit.
Mahatma gandhi was relevant in his times, he is/was considered as the father of the nation, and he still commands a lot of respect both in India and abroad. I personally think that today there is not too much relevance, but history being history you cannot ignore. So getting his relics back to India was the right thing to do.
But the whole excercise starting from the sale itself was a comedy. Mr. Otis broke down and cried when the stuff was sold! There is a picture. Then the government had no clue how to go about this, Ms Soni says one thing, Mr. Mallya another. A classic soap opera.
Today the only thing which is almost sure it that the items will be in Indian hands. The auction house has to wait till legal issues are clear. So either Mr. Mallya gets them, or the Indian Govt. as they had started court proceedings. Even though the items are now in custody, one of these two should get the stuff. So foreign collector of memorabilia should get the stuff.
But this matter has been done in a stupid fashion, typical Govt of India. We had several people bidding against each other to secure these items for India. And in the process drove up the price. Was it really patriotism to get these items or did one see an opportunity to get in Governments good books? But the price went up.
About the customs duties, there is a misconception that we blame the customs. They follow a rule book and policies. These are framed by ministries. The customs did not waive the duty when Amritraj won the Volvo cup, it was the sports ministry who paid. I think that even Kapil Dev tried to bring in a Merc "gifted" by a businessman. Just because customs may be lenient in regard to personal baggage, for such imports they have to follow the policies.
This is an opportunity for the ministries to sit down and frame a new policy for such imports. I do not see why Indians cannot buy heritage abroad and bring back to India to keep for themselves or for exhibiting. Even Maharaja cars amongs other stuff could come back this way. And this should be the way when the government is not able to buy back stuff which went out illegally. The Swan car which went out illegally was put up for auction, what did the government do? Nothing!!
I read that Mr. Tushar Gandhi was tense. But just visit Mani Bhavan. I have mentioned this story before. About 2 years ago I donated to Mani Bhavan an original old Rs 100/- note. They have a display where these notes of the 1960/70's are framed, Rs 1/-, Rs2/- Rs5/-, Rs10/- and Rs100/-. The 100 note is a xerox copy. I gave this with a letter, never received an ackn. I visited one year ago, it was not put, they were waiting for a carpenter. I again visited 3 weeks ago, they restored the whole building including carpentry work but they have still the xerox copy on display. Maybe Mr. Tushar could have a look here also.
A few years ago it had also come out that some items housed elsewhere were actually replaced! I personally feel that if Mr. Mallya gets the items, he should keep in his custody and not donate to the government. Remember, many things given free are not appreciated for their value.Lastly, why should government museums only display items which they own? Museums abroad proundly acknowledge the name of persons who have lent their items to a museum, this helps the collector for space and the museum to get display items. Is this done in any Museum in India? I am not aware, and who would trust them anyway?
This was a little more than 2 bits, but CHEERS to Gandhi relics, how ironic!!!
Last edited by harit : 7th March 2009 at 16:08.
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