HYDERABAD: US-based collector James Lambert Otis says he hasn’t accumulated a single penny from the auction of Mahatma Gandhi’s articles for his personal use. Otis was in the city on Monday at a get-together of Gandhian minds to clarify by his position on the controversy over the auction.
A meticulous collector of Gandhi’s articles is only one facet of James Lambert Otis. The 45-year-old collector is the grandson of the owner of Otis Lift Company and is also associated with the makers of Listerine mouthwash.
He made headlines all over the world for auctioning Indian freedom hero Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings.
Addressing a small gathering at Taj Deccan, Otis maintained that the money that was procured after sending the items under hammer was only meant for the uplift of marginalised sections all over the world. He appealed to Gandhi’s followers not to hold any grudge against him. He made it a point to liquor baron Vijay Mallya for buying Gandhi's articles.
Even as many Indians cried foul over the auction, alleging that the sale is against the philosophy of a man who shunned material possessions and led an austere life, Otis put up a unique defence. “Throughout his life, Mahatma used to sell his articles, letters, gifts (presented to him by others) and other belongings to procure money, so that the collected money would be spent for the benefit of the downtrodden,” Otis said.
When asked about the timing of the auction, he replied, “I’m very much inspired by the victory of US President Barack Obama and felt that this is the right time for the auction.
For me there is a Gandhian connection in the process of Obama becoming President because the victories of Nelson Mandela and many other social movements were inspired by the Mahatma.” Otis added that the timing could not have been better. Otis has also explained that he has donated more than $1.05 million to social movements in many parts of the world.
Saying that he would continue with the mission of collecting Gandhi’s articles throughout his life, Otis said, “While I continue this venture, I’m also collecting belongings of great leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa and many others.”