The priceless manuscript of an article written by Mahatma Gandhi just a fortnight before his assassination will not be auctioned here on Tuesday so that the Indian government can acquire it.

“The Christie’s have agreed to withdraw Mahatma Gandhi’s manuscript from Tuesday’s auction to facilitate the government of India to acquire it,” Dr Amin Jaffar, International Director of the auction house Christie’s said on Monday.

“We decided to have facilitating negotiations which have resulted in an important historical record returning to India,” Jaffar said in a release signed by Mathew Paton of the Christie’s press office.

The Christie’s had earlier fixed a reserve price of 9,000 to 12,000 pounds for Gandhiji’s manuscript written on January 11, nineteen days before his assassination.

The article related to “Urdu Harijan” which was written for his journal “Harijan” with a number of emendations and cancellations running into seven pages.

Sources said earlier that Indian authorities were in negotiations with the Christie’s on the modalities of acquiring the manuscript on behalf of the Indian government.

Instant reaction
Reports last week that the manuscript was going to be auctioned on Tuesday had triggered instant reaction in India with several Gandhians urging the government to immediately intervene and initiate steps to acquire the letter.