Should Gandhi’s effects be auctioned?

A New York auction house plans to sell a variety of Gandhi’s belongings such as his sandals, pocket watch, and glasses.

Gandhi’s great grandson (Tushar Gandhi) claims that the auction is immoral and is asking the effects to be returned to India as national treasurers.  He also questions whether the owner of the memorabilia, Peter Ruhe, obtained the items legally.

See Barney Henderson & Dean Nelson, Gandhi heirs condemn auction of his belongings, Telegraph.co.uk, Feb. 16, 2009.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.