Vijay Mallya buys Gandhi items for $1.8 million

Wind · 6th March 2009, 08:05

Mahatma Gandhi’s memorabilia went under the hammer in New York early on Friday morning (India time) after hours of high drama.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya bought Gandhi’s items for $1.8 million. The collection had a reserve price of between $20,000 and $30,000. Bidding began at $20,000 and rose to the final price within seven minutes.

Vijay Mallya buys Gandhi items for $1.8 million

Isn't it ironical that a liquor baron has to step in retrive Gandhi's belongings.
Strange indeed is this world!

-- Wind

zenx · 6th March 2009, 08:21

This guy wears his patriotism on his sleeve, and is ready put his money behind it. Hats off - he acted swiftly even as the government was figuring out what to do. Awesome.

Mpower · 6th March 2009, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wind

Isn't it ironical that a liquor baron has to step in retrive Gandhi's belongings.
Strange indeed is this world!

-- Wind

Why is it ironic? Just because he is a liquor baron doesn't make him a villan. I respect Gandhi, I drink beer, I drink KF..I dont think I have double standards.

pulsar56 · 6th March 2009, 08:40

I remember seeing some news items that the Govt. will do all it can possibly do to get these items to India.

Quote:

However, the US justice department has asked the Antiquorum Auctioneers to hold the lot for two weeks pending a resolution between the new owner, the US and Indian Government.
Mallya is then expected to return the items to the Government of India.

Vijay Mallya buys Gandhi items for $1.8 million

ImranShahnawaz · 6th March 2009, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Why is it ironic? Just because he is a liquor baron doesn't make him a villan. I respect Gandhi, I drink beer, I drink KF..I dont think I have double standards.

Agree with Mpower, atleast Mallya has taken initiative to bring Gandhi's belongings back to our country, if not by the Govt. Truly appreciate his efforts.

zaks · 6th March 2009, 09:50

Our govt is chicken and he is the King, who doesn't know this simple fact.

Bless you Mallya.

hillram · 6th March 2009, 09:54

VM did a right thing and held nation's pride togather.But Ambanis and Tatas could have done this too.what stopped them.On top Ambanis are based out of Gujarat the home of gandhiji.
In the end Im glad the nation's pride is saved.

turbo_v12 · 6th March 2009, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenx

This guy wears his patriotism on his sleeve, and is ready put his money behind it. Hats off - he acted swiftly even as the government was figuring out what to do. Awesome.

Yeah. I'll add a thumbs up to this post.

Aditya · 6th March 2009, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Why is it ironic? Just because he is a liquor baron doesn't make him a villan. I respect Gandhi, I drink beer, I drink KF..I dont think I have double standards.

Exactly.
Vijay Mallya does business and does it well. That liquor business has helped him buy out Shaw Wallace, launch a good airline, own a cricket team, made him the first Indian to own a Formula 1 team and now this. We should be proud of him. Where are all the others when India needs them?
Well done, Sir!

deepgautam_qa · 6th March 2009, 10:13

Hats off to you VM!

kb100 · 6th March 2009, 10:25

BUT have the goods and money exchanged hands?. The auction house is apparently stuck in some legality over the owner withdrawing the items from the auction BEFORE it took place. Maybe.. just maybe - it was not theirs to auction in the first place??

Dippy · 6th March 2009, 10:40

Well done VM. It's good to see Indians like him who act quickly and waste no time in thinking. If you sell alcohol doesnt mean you are a bad person. Just look where VM has put India on the world map. He is always ready to take on new risks. Force India is also a classic example. While some would refrain from something like picking up a down a out team VM went right ahead and bought it. That is we see a tri coloured F1 car on the grid today.

The great grandson of the Mahatma, Mr Tushar Gandhi is a very close friend of mine. I have worked with him for several years. The other day I was sitting with him and he was very tense about the whole thing. He is very much relieved now. Hes just waiting for the items to come back to India.

He does browse Team BHP regularly and will be happy to see the support by everyone here.

Well done VM. We are proud of you.

srishiva · 6th March 2009, 10:41

Previously he had bought items belonging to Tipu Sultan. Now this. What are the others doing?

From NY times,
At that point, the contest essentially narrowed to Tony Bedi, representing Mr. Mallya, and Arlan Ettinger, the president of Guernsey’s auction house, representing a former Indian cricketer, Dilip Doshi, who was said to be interested in donating the items to the Indian government. The price continued to rise until Mr. Bedi made the winning $1.8 million bid, and the room burst into applause. “He is bringing the heritage of the items back to India,” Mr. Bedi said of Mr. Mallya

So Dilip Doshi! That was really good of him. I dont know what he does now but you have to applaud his efforts too.

suren181 · 6th March 2009, 10:57

Would you rather, the artifacts remain in foreign hands? Man, shouldn't we be glad that it's now atleast in Indian hands rather than someone who merely would consider it an investment?

Well, the next question is why wouldn't VM consider this just an investment?
The ans: He has already set a precedent by successfully bidding for the Tipu's items.

gd1418 · 6th March 2009, 11:11

Why is it ironical in the first place? All those other non-liquor barons didn't even blink. Gandhiji, who spent most of his time at Jamnalal Bajaj's place, did not elicit any staement from Rahul Bajaj who otherwise doesn't hesitate even for a sec to reiterate this fact.

Tipu Sultan's sword was bought back where it rightfully belonged by Mallya and now Gandhi's. Liquor or no liquor, this has got nothing to do with patriotic sentiments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wind

Isn't it ironical that a liquor baron has to step in retrive Gandhi's belongings.
Strange indeed is this world!

-- Wind

6th March 2009, 08:05	#1
Wind BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 277 Thanked: 75 Times	Vijay Mallya buys Gandhi items for $1.8 million Mahatma Gandhi’s memorabilia went under the hammer in New York early on Friday morning (India time) after hours of high drama. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya bought Gandhi’s items for $1.8 million. The collection had a reserve price of between $20,000 and $30,000. Bidding began at $20,000 and rose to the final price within seven minutes. Vijay Mallya buys Gandhi items for $1.8 million Isn't it ironical that a liquor baron has to step in retrive Gandhi's belongings. Strange indeed is this world! -- Wind
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 08:21	#2
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	This guy wears his patriotism on his sleeve, and is ready put his money behind it. Hats off - he acted swiftly even as the government was figuring out what to do. Awesome.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 09:50	#6
zaks BANNED Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 952 Thanked: 181 Times View My Garage	Our govt is chicken and he is the King, who doesn't know this simple fact. Bless you Mallya.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 09:54	#7
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	VM did a right thing and held nation's pride togather.But Ambanis and Tatas could have done this too.what stopped them.On top Ambanis are based out of Gujarat the home of gandhiji. In the end Im glad the nation's pride is saved.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 10:13	#10
deepgautam_qa BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rajastha Posts: 221 Thanked: 8 Times	Hats off to you VM!
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 10:25	#11
kb100 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangy Boy! Posts: 1,555 Thanked: 21 Times	BUT have the goods and money exchanged hands?. The auction house is apparently stuck in some legality over the owner withdrawing the items from the auction BEFORE it took place. Maybe.. just maybe - it was not theirs to auction in the first place??
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 10:40	#12
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,561 Thanked: 2,470 Times	Well done VM. It's good to see Indians like him who act quickly and waste no time in thinking. If you sell alcohol doesnt mean you are a bad person. Just look where VM has put India on the world map. He is always ready to take on new risks. Force India is also a classic example. While some would refrain from something like picking up a down a out team VM went right ahead and bought it. That is we see a tri coloured F1 car on the grid today. The great grandson of the Mahatma, Mr Tushar Gandhi is a very close friend of mine. I have worked with him for several years. The other day I was sitting with him and he was very tense about the whole thing. He is very much relieved now. Hes just waiting for the items to come back to India. He does browse Team BHP regularly and will be happy to see the support by everyone here. Well done VM. We are proud of you.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 10:41	#13
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	Previously he had bought items belonging to Tipu Sultan. Now this. What are the others doing? From NY times, At that point, the contest essentially narrowed to Tony Bedi, representing Mr. Mallya, and Arlan Ettinger, the president of Guernsey’s auction house, representing a former Indian cricketer, Dilip Doshi, who was said to be interested in donating the items to the Indian government. The price continued to rise until Mr. Bedi made the winning $1.8 million bid, and the room burst into applause. “He is bringing the heritage of the items back to India,” Mr. Bedi said of Mr. Mallya So Dilip Doshi! That was really good of him. I dont know what he does now but you have to applaud his efforts too. Last edited by srishiva : 6th March 2009 at 10:57.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 10:57	#14
suren181 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 850 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Would you rather, the artifacts remain in foreign hands? Man, shouldn't we be glad that it's now atleast in Indian hands rather than someone who merely would consider it an investment? Well, the next question is why wouldn't VM consider this just an investment? The ans: He has already set a precedent by successfully bidding for the Tipu's items. Last edited by suren181 : 6th March 2009 at 10:58.
	() Thanks