Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Gandhi Auction to Proceed in NYC Despite Indian Court Order
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 4, 2009
Modified Mar 5, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 4, 2009
Modified Mar 5, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Items which once belonged to Mahatma Gandhi—including his sandals, pocket watch, spectacles, an eating bowl, plate, and results of a blood test—will be auctioned off tomorrow in Manhattan through Antiquorum, a leading watch auctioneer. The memorabilia is owned by James Otis, an LA-based documentary filmmaker who has gradually amassed the possessions, many of which were given away to various individuals by Gandhi himself during the course of his life.
But according to Market Watch, Gandhi's descendants have been pressuring the Indian government to stop the auction, and a high court in India issued an interim stay on Tuesday, under the argument that the items "were of great heritage value and were considered to be legitimately owned by India."
But Julien Schaerer of Antiquorum tells City Room the auction will go on: "I believe they don’t have jurisdiction in the United States. It’s important to emphasize, they were rightfully acquired and already out of India." The entire collection has a reserve price of $20,000 to $30,000.
Otis says the Indian government did offer to buy the lot, but the price was too low; he tells the Economic Times, "I would be very happy to welcome any serious offers from the Indian government and it might not even have to be financial. There are things they could offer in terms of helping the people of India that I would more than welcome, for example improving health care for the poorest Indians in exchange for the items." Which is obviously a deal breaker for the Indian government!
Tagged
auction
Gandhi
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Ballot questions ask NYC voters whether to cut red tape on outdoor dining, bike lanes
A rundown on five proposed amendments to the city charter on voters’ ballots.
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
The NYPD arrested a mom and took her kids' Christmas gifts. She never got them back.
A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of making it hard for New Yorkers to reclaim seized belongings.
By
Samantha Max
News
The NYPD arrested a mom and took her kids' Christmas gifts. She never got them back.
A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of making it hard for New Yorkers to reclaim seized belongings.
By
Samantha Max
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
By
Charles Lane
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .