gandhi

Is Montblanc's Gandhi Pen In Poor Taste?

Recently Montblanc unveiled their latest pen in Mumbai. One of Mohandas Gandhi's great-grandsons (Tushar Gandhi shown above) was in attendance as the golden pen was unveiled in time for the 140th anniversary of the birth of the Mahatma . The beautiful pen has angered some who say that a luxury good from a foreign company does not honor Gandhi's legacy and don't see the connection between their beloved icon and a bauble for the rich.

The pen is available in two editions. The Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition 241 is an 18K gold pen that depicts Gandhi setting off on the salt march of July 1930 and is priced at 17,000 euros (around $24,000). Another addition is available in fountain and rollerball versions for around $3000-$3500. Only 241 commemorative gold fountain pens will be sold, the number refers to how many miles he walked during the "salt march," a protest against salt taxes levied by the British. The pens are decorated with Gandhi's signature and a saffron-colored opal. The pen also comes with a 26-foot golden thread which can be wound around the pen and is meant to recall the spindle that Gandhi used to weave simple cotton cloth. The pen comes in a luxury box with a booklet of Gandhi quotes.

The good news is that Montblanc is donating some money to Indian causes. Montblanc chief executive Lutz Bethge gave a check for 100,000 euros to Tushar Gandhi, for a foundation that works to improve child nutrition and education. The foundation also gets more money (approximately $200-$1,000) for each pen sold. Tushar Ghandhi made news earlier this year when he protested Antiquorum's auction of Mahatma Gandhi's glasses, sandals and pocket watch. He has also asked Britain to return the Koh-i-noor diamond to India.

UPDATE: According to the Gulf Times, Dijo Kapen, from the Centre of Consumer Education in Kerala's Kottayam district has filed a petition in state high court challenging Montblanc's right to market the pens.

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Tags: gandhi, montblanc, pen

Tour India With Gandhi's Grandsons

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Charity

Go Philanthropic is offering a unique way to see India next December. You can join the grandsons of M.K. Gandhi on a one-of-a-kind philanthropic adventure. The trip, which runs from December 1-6 with an optional extension to December 11 offers an in-depth look at current social and development projects in India. The trip will support the Gandhi Memorial School project aimed at protecting children from child labor and exploitation.

Group members traveling commit to contributing $1000 per person, for a collective goal of raising $10,000 for the Gandhi Memorial School to create either a new classroom or a water well. Travelers will also see significant sights in towns including Mumbai, New Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), and Jaipur.

The trip begins with a visit to M.K Gandhi's residence in Mumbai, visits to Women's India Trust and MarketShare, organizations focused on women's empowerment, education and vocational development, the group contribution and visit to Sunanda Gandhi Memorial School in Kolhapur and a meeting with Verala HIV prevention program. The optional extension includes a visit to the Taj Mahal and a tour of Old and New Delhi including Delhi Street Walk guided by former street children now supported by important youth development programs. The experience is not voluntourism but is instead an opportunity to travel and see a place from a different angle than one might usually experience. The trip includes carbon offset and promises to be a life-changing journey.

The trip will cost around $3,300 plus the $1,000 donation for standard accommodations or there is a five-star option for around $6,000. Go Philanthropic also does custom travel for individuals, family and groups.

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Tags: gandhi, india, philanthropy, tourism

Gandhi's Pocket Watch Goes For Over 2 Million Dollars In Controversial Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

While bidding may still taking place at Antiquroum's March 4-5 auction, the major lot has closed, the Zenith pocket watch and some accompanying items owned by Gandhi. For weeks now the Indian government was trying to halt the auction by legal means. Fearful that the relics would pass to hand away from India, they claimed that the items belonged to the people of India as a whole. While Indian officials were unable to stop the New York City based auction, thankfully for them the Gandhi watch has remained in Indian hands.

'Lot 364' closed way above the estimate price ($20-30k) at 1.8 million dollars. That price increased to $2,096,000 including the buyer's premium (an amount over the final bidding price charged to the buyer). It was by far the highest price a lot for this current auction had reached. The winning bid came from Vijay Mallya, the wealthy owner of King Fisher Beer (and Airlines) of India (is that like having a Budweiser airlines in the US?). His complete plans with the items and pocket watch are unclear. While the Gandhi relics will go on public display, it is unclear whether they will be given to the Indian government or remain in private hands.

Some content via MSN News and Anitquroum.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: antiquorum, auction, gandhi, pocket, vijay mallya, VijayMallya, watch, zenith

Gandhi's Family Wants His Watch And The Koh-i-Noor Diamond Too

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

The Indian government has been trying to persuade Antiquorum not to auction off Mahatma Gandhi's glasses, sandals and pocket watch in New York this week. Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of the Indian independence leader, also has bigger fish to fry. He has asked Britain to return the Koh-i-noor diamond to India. The Koh-i-Noor is a 105-carat diamond which was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 (and later received a paring down from 186 carats to its current weight in order to make it appear more brilliant). The stone is mounted in a crown which was worn by the Queen Mother and was on top of her coffin when she died in 2002 and is now in the Tower of London. The stone has a long history. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal had the stone in his throne and Pakistan and Iran also have claims to the stone.

Tushar Gandhi told the London Times that the stone rightfully belongs to India and that returning it would be "atonement for the colonial past." He has been working with Indian companies and private individuals to raise funds to buy back Gandhi's pocket watch and other items and donate them to a museum (the watch could bring in $300,000). Antiquorum has said the auction will go forward so anyone who wants the pieces will have to bid on them and hope they win. The case of the Koh-i-Noor is a little trickier since it doesn't seem that Britain will be parting with it any time soon and the stone is worth millions.

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Tags: diamond, gandhi, koh-i-noor

Gandhi's Zenith Pocket Watch Up For Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

Mahatma Gandhi was never known as a man of many possessions. Regardless, everyone needs a watch, Gandhi included. As part of Anitqorum's March 4-5 watch auction, Gandhi's Zenith alarm pocket watch will be made available. The circa 1910-1915 pocket watch is not in the best condition, as you can see the subsidiary hands are missing, and the dial needs to be refinished. The new owner will have to decide whether to restore the watch, or leave it as is for display purposes only. Overall, it is amazing that such a watch would ever be available in an auction.

Before Gandhi died, he gave the watch to his grandniece, Abha Gandhi (who was also his assistant for 6 years). From there the watch must have in a private collection or two before being now available - though it possibly could have stayed in the family. Interestingly enough, in the same lot are other Gandhi items including his glasses, sandals, bowl, plate, and letters to authenticate it all. The expected auction yield for the pocket watch itself is between $20,000 and $30,000 dollars.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: antiqorum, auction, gandhi, pocket watch, PocketWatch, Zenith