The sandals of the former Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and several of his personal items will be auctioned on May 21 in Ludlow, in the northwest of England, British auction house Malok announced today.
The auction will include letters, paintings, photographs, lithographs, audio recordings, a lamp, bowls, a flask, as well as linen and a cap that belonged to Gandhi. The white linen scarf worn by the Indian leader is also on the list.
A document signed by Gandhi's hand is also on sale, and that document is estimated between 35.500 and 47.000 euros.
The leather sandals worn by Gandhi, which are in poor condition, come from his home in Juhu, western India, where he lived from 1917 to 1934, the auction house said, adding that they are estimated at between 11.800 and 17.800 euros.
It is said that Gandhi, running to get on the departing train, lost one of his sandals.
When he entered the train, he threw the other one out of the window, so that someone could find them and take them.
India is making efforts to keep Gandhi's belongings in his homeland
Other leather sandals, a wristwatch with a chain, a bowl and a plate belonging to Gandhi were sold at auction in New York in 2009 for $1,8 million. Those items were bought by an Indian entrepreneur.
The buyer then said he would donate the items to India, which tried to prevent the sale.
India does not approve the auction sale of Gandhi's items, judging that it insults the memory of a man who rejected material wealth all his life. India is making efforts to keep Gandhi's belongings in his homeland.
Authorities in New Delhi managed to get letters, documents and some photographs of Gandhi for $XNUMX million last year today ahead of an auction that was to be held at Sotheby's auction house in Britain.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), whose name Mahatma means "supreme soul" in Sanskrit, fought for India's independence through non-violent revolution.
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