Mr. Otis is a very polished con man. If he were a gentleman he would have just gone to Indian embassy and handed over these items. He belongs to a new generation of so called 'pacifists' and so called peace workers whose main aim is to rake in millions from guilty millionaires ready to give their money in charity to the most famous charity. He is not to be taken seriously. We should not worry abou those items. Who knows whether they are genuine or not. Indian government should not play to his tune. Gandhiji is in our hearts and he would have been pained to learn that such hue and cry is being made over his belongings. Mr. Otis we can see through your game. Yes we can!
Gandhi would rather serve the poor dalits and the Hardline muslims. He would have no time to squander on such things like watches and glasses. The Birlas were providing such needs endlessly.
This will left to Mr. Gandhi. If he died his concern will recycled and made to other product (if it may gone for rust or any breakages). If he has to be remember we have the hearts and their memories in mind.
Re: Re: message
by janasevakendra on Mar 03, 2009 03:41 PM
Atleast all Gandh of Gandhis will not destroy society so let him call for and let him alone suffer
Rather than just deifying a personality like Gandhi and putting up his statues, preserving his specs, charkha, khadi undergarments, walking stick, etc, it is better to follow the ideals and principles for which this great man earned the title of Mahatma! One film like Munnabhai Lage raho has done more for Gandhism than the thousands of statues, roads, parks and museums set up in his name!
Re: Dont just chase symbols
by Ponangi Thyagaraju on Mar 03, 2009 08:29 PM
Mr Jai Babu, the statues and belongings of great people signify our sense of history and sense of respect. There is nothing wrong in preserving the items used by the great people.
auction to uncrupulous businessmen who made money by exploiting workers and consumers and now they want to give money for a few personal items of the departed leader.
The leader would definitely approve of this, as is now revealed. Gandhiji was like that - "be the change you want to see in the world"
So he started with himself, auctioning and raising money for good causes.
A good companion to this work would be a regualr publishing of the places where the money goes - including the food and travel bills of volunteers who take the aid down the last mile.
If that became a standard in the knowledge market, this would ensure that other NGOs have to be 100%-transparency compliant.
Much like a company's balance sheet. It's not an easy task for weak-minded crooks in shady NGOs to publish internal accounts. That will slowly but surely eliminate the crook NGOs because everyone else is transparency compliant. And you have no reason to withhold that information citing homeland security or trying to use bureaucracy.
A legal vehicle for transparency!!
We want this transparency, for sure.
Brother James, if you're listening, do this too. :-) May Gandhiji's spirit guide you on!
Re: a good way of getting the robbed money back
by manjari Rastogi on Mar 03, 2009 03:39 PM
Oh that reminds me- I know you people are not going to believe this - in 1940s Gandhiji came to my town. Of course even my father was not born back then. My great grandfather gifted him a large silver plate as my great grandfather was a silver merchant. Gandhiji took it but then auctioned it and my greatgrandfather bought it back for about 4 times its cost and kept it with him always. This incident is in provincial gazeteer
The intrest shown for these belongings of Ghandi should be shown for all the belongings of India which were forcibaly taken out of India duting the Colonial rule. Indian Government should make a legestlation regarding this. There are lots of things which were stolen from "Mother India" and are being made money with, which unfortunately the others are not even cared by the Indian government....
Re: Show similar care to all Indian belongings
by manjari Rastogi on Mar 03, 2009 03:45 PM
Koh-i-noor diamond belonged to Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji. His throne and his belt studded with priceless emeralds are also in British museums. Five of the world's seven largest diamonds were mined in India. the list is very very long. google and find for yourself
All these items must be kept safe and in controlled atmosphere...it hardly matters in which country they are kept. If the Indian Govt. is ready to take the responsibility of these priceless items than it should go fwd with it..may be Tushar Gandhi can have them & decide where to keep them..may be the "Agakhan Palace, Pune.. is a good location. But Raising money by auctioning these items belonging to a man who hardly had any materialistic bondage is unacceptable...remembering his values r most important...Let Peace & non-violence prevail. Jai Ho !!
