Gandhi's sandals, glasses to be auctioned

The distinctive sandals and round metal-rimmed glasses worn by Mahatma Gandhi are to be auctioned off in New York in what has been described as a "truly historic sale", a newspaper reported Wednesday.

u00a0The unique sale by Antiquorum Auctioneers is to be held March 4 and 5, the Daily Telegraph reported. u00a0 u00a0

The auction also includes his pocket watch and a bowl and a plate given to his grand niece Abha Gandhi. u00a0 u00a0

Gandhi gave his glasses to an Indian army colonel, named as H.A. Shiri Diwan Nawab, with the words: "These gave me the vision to free India." u00a0 u00a0

The sandals were given to a British army officer in 1931 prior to Round Table talks in London.u00a0 u00a0

His Zenith pocket-watch was given to his grand niece, Abha Gandhi, his assistant of six years, in whose arms he fell after being shot in 1948.u00a0 u00a0

Gandhi was pictured wearing the pocket watch, made in about 1910, and it is expected to be the highlight of the sale.u00a0 u00a0

The newspaper said the items were expected to do well and exceed their estimated prime of 30,000 pounds as Gandhi had few possessions.u00a0 u00a0

Michelle Halpern, from Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York, which is staging the auction, said: "This is a truly historic sale of Gandhi's possessions. Of course he didn't have much, so anything of his that comes up for sale is worth that much more.u00a0 u00a0

"He's a hero not just in India but across the world for his peaceful methods and the changes he made. u00a0 u00a0

"The glasses were given in the 1930s to Colonel H.A. Shiri Diwan Nawab who asked Gandhi for inspiration. Gandhi gave him the glasses and said: 'These gave me the vision to free India.'u00a0 u00a0

"They were passed down through the colonel's family and we have a letter of provenance from his grandson. The sandals were given to a British military officer in 1931 prior to the Round Table talks in London.u00a0 u00a0

"The officer had taken some photographs of Gandhi and he gave him his sandals out of gratitude. They were passed down through the officer's family. The watch, bowl and plate came from Gandhi's grand niece who was his assistant for six years.u00a0 u00a0

"The items were put together by a collector who is now selling them and there has already been a great deal of interest. I'm sure the items will sell for more than the estimate."u00a0 u00a0