Record price for Gandhi letters

A series of signed and autographed letters by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru sold almost for double the pre-sale estimates at a Sotheby’s auction here on Tuesday.

Three of Gandhi’s autographed letters to Islamic scholar and leading figure in the Khilafat movement, Maulana Abdul Bari, in Urdu with an estimated price of £ 2,500-3,000 sold for £4,750 at the auction of English literature, history, children’s books and illustrations that saw a total sale of £9,04,775.

They refer to HinduMuslim relations, including communal tension in Lucknow and their personal friendship. Writing one letter from prison, Gandhi thanks Bari for gifting cotton for spinning.

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Government vows to bring Gandhi's belongings home

The government said it would do everything required, through the "bidding process or otherwise", to bring back the personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi to India.

Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York have placed Gandhi's glasses, a pair of worn leather sandals, a pocket watch, and a bowl and plate for sale for a starting bid of $20,000 to $30,000. The auction is on Thursday.

The government was also holding last-minute talks with the auction house. "We have asked our embassy in Washington and the consulate general of India in New York to do everything that is required through the bidding process or otherwise to acquire the Father of the Nation's personal assets for the country," minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma said.

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Clintons share limelight with Obama

Rarely in the history of American political conventions has the losing side received so much time and attention as this week in Denver.

Barack Obama has been forced, by the clout Hillary Rodham Clinton showed in their primary battle and his need for her voters in his race against Republican John McCain, to allow the gathering of Democrats to look a lot like the Clinton Convention.

The first day, Monday, was dominated by day long deal making between the Clinton and Obama camps over ground rules for the nominating roll call.

The second day’s highlight was Clinton’s address. Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, designated the official convention keynote speaker, was just a footnote in television and newspaper reports.

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