The government of India has decided to bring back the rare manuscript of Mahatma Gandhi [Images] written just a fortnight before his assassination from London [Images]. "There is no need to worry about this great manuscript. It will be available to the country," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in New Delhi.
He was asked about how the government proposed to acquire the manuscript. The manuscript's auction by London-based Christie's was aborted on Monday following negotiations by the Indian mission.
"My ministry has decided to bring it back. We have talked to the person concerned," the minister said.
Christie's had earlier fixed a reserve price of 9,000 to 12,000 pounds for the manuscript written on January 11, nineteen days before his assassination.
The sale had been slated for Tuesday, but when the mission established that the ownership of the manuscript lies with the Ahmedabad-based Navjiwan Trust, it was withdrawn from the auction.
In the handwritten article, which was published in the journal Harijan, the Mahatma pleaded for tolerance towards Muslims.
© Copyright 2007 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
|
Advertisement
Email this Article 
Print this Article