The Indian government has acquired the priceless manuscript of Mahatma Gandhi, a day after it was decided to take it off the  auctioneer’s hammer. But it was not clear how much money was paid for it.
“Government of India is in possession of the manuscript Mahatma Gandhi had written 19 days before his assassination pleading for tolerance of Muslims in India for his journal “Harijan”, a senior High Commission official told PTI on Tuesday.
Asked whether any money was paid for acquiring the document, he said the government negotiated with the auctioneers and representatives of late Albin Schram of Switzerland, who owned it. The conditions of the transaction “have to be kept in confidence”, he said.
The document, which was withdrawn  from this morning’s session by auctioneers the Christie’s after negotiations with the Indian government, was part of an extensive collection and a reserve price of 9,000 to 12,000 pounds was set for it.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee appeared to indicate that some money could have been paid for acquiring the manuscript.
 “That is part of negotiation,” he told reporters accompanying him on a trip to Ethiopia when asked how much money was involved.
The official profusely thanked the Christie’s and Dr Amin Jaffer, International director of Asian Art for facilitating the negotiations which have resulted in the important historical record being returned to India.
Reports last week  that the document would be up for auction triggered immediate reaction in India with several Gandhians urging the government to intervene in the matter immediately.