I have written the sequence of events as they occurred and have expressed my views about it. I am open to discussion if anyone doesn't feel like the way I do, because I feel this is what is a debatable topic ( I did not consider Mangalore as a debatable issue -- for me, anyone who did not oppose it, was a Jerk!)
My comments in purple
Events in Red
Double quoted words in blue
1)Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings ( A Zenith pocket watch, steel-rimmed spectacles, a pair of sandals and an eating bowl and plate) to be auctioned.Estimated booty from the auction --> 30,000 to 40,000$.
2)Indian Govt unhappy over the auction,launches its protest with the US Govt. Doesnt look like US gives a damn (so you know, where you stand).
3)James Otis, the auctioneer, set conditions for withdrawing the items from the auction, which included a "substantial" increase in India's budget spending on health care of the poor.
What a Noble man indeed! But I guess Govt is interested in vote bank.
Increase in health care for poor will give them this vote bank??Might be , but negligible anyway!!
'Saving Gandhi's personal Belongings' will instantly catch an average Indian's attention who would then become a UPA fan.
What an opportunity to misuse emotions of many!
4)Just before the auction, owner of the items James Otis had agreed to withdraw them from the auction but the auction house did not agree. It argued that it could have a big liability if it allowed the items to be withdrawn from the auction as more than 30 bidders had already registered for them and some have even sent in written bids.
5)Mallya wins the bid, buys the stuff for 1.8 million dollars.(Crazy money!!). The controversy obviously helped in shooting up the price.
Don't know about you guys , personally, I don't give a damn, nor has my respect for Mallya increased/decreased in any way. Its just where it was. (The respect had increased when he bought a F1 team.)
Now, I am like -- "Ya, Ok, we got it, whatever".
If he would not have got it, I would have been like -- "Ya, Ok, we did not get it, whatever".
Allthough, I would totally understand if it is an emotional moment for some of us (specially the older generation).
I would have rather appreciated, if New Delhi had diplomatic power to convince the authorities in US against the auction, which they clearly lacked.Don't these people feel ashamed of the fact that no one gives a damn about them and what they want??
6)Culture minister Ambika Soni claims
"The Indian government procured the five personal articles of Mahatma Gandhi at a New York auction through the services of industrialist Vijay Mallya as it could not bid directly because of a stay order of the Delhi High Court.""We were working on several options to get the items back. This is a victory for the UPA government"
Any Tom, Dick and Harry SHOULD be able to tell you, our Govt wants to piggyback on the goodwill Mallya would have managed to produce after this.
I said "SHOULD be able to tell you".because I know, an idiot Indian (and they are in majority in India) would have believed Ambika Soni when she made that statement.No wonder, these ministers have the balls to make such ridiculous claims.
I am telling you they probably did not even know that Mallya would be bidding.
Mallya later proves my belief by saying :-
"I am not sure if anyone was aware that I was bidding"
7)Times of India reports 'Mallya's shocker: I bid on my own'.
Is it really a Shocker? Not even a bit of a shocker to me!!
What do you feel about the whole set of events?
Overall My feelings are :-
Neutral --> Mallya winning the auction
Ashamed --> Of Indian Govt ( as usual ) for its lack of diplomatic strength in the world.
Ridiculous --> Claims made by Ambika Soni.
James Otis -->A good Business man.
Vijay Mlallya --> Did what he wanted to do, fine with me.
Ambika Soni --> What a Bitch.
Time to sleep, Its 5.30AM SGT.
