Bizman offers Rs 2.25 crore for Gandhi’s SA home

Businessman gets in touch with the owner, but has yet to strike a deal since there are other people vying for The Kraal in Johannesburg

Bizman offers Rs 2.25 crore for Gandhi's SA home

Businessman gets in touch with the owner, but has yet to strike a deal since there are other people vying for The Kraal in Johannesburg

Businessman Pradeep Bhavnani, who had expressed his desire to buy The Kraal, Mahatma Gandhi's house in Johannesburg, South Africa, is making rapid moves.

He got in touch with owner, Nancy Ball, through a common friend, a cricketer in South Africa.

"Nancy demanded Rs 2.5 crore for the Mahatma's house. But after several telephonic conversations, I managed to get it down to Rs 2.25 crore.

My wife and I will travel to Johannesburg next week and meet her," said Bhavnani, who underwent a bypass surgery recently.

But Bhavnani isn't the only person vying for the house.

According to Stephen Gelb, founding director of the Centre of Indian Studies in Africa at the University of Witwatersrand, "Several others have shown interest in buying the house.

Nancy's mailbox is flooded with inquiries." Nancy had sought Stephen's help to find a suitable buyer for the house.

Birla donations

Meanwhile, representatives from the Aditya Birla Group have contacted Bhavnani and offered to sell him 34 articles about the Father of the Nation as well as his photos. The cost of each piece ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 2,000.

"They want to sell the Mahatma's articles to me at the cost price, so that they can be displayed in The Kraal after I buy it," said Bhavnani.

Bharat Parekh, general manager, special project cell, Aditya Birla Group, said, "G D Birla was very close to Mahatma Gandhi and the Birlas have shared excellent relations with the Gandhi family for several years.

The articles are unique, represent the Mahatma's ideals and have been specially designed by our company."

At present, the articles are being displayed through mobile exhibitions in several Indian states.

The Request

Pradeep Bhavnani wrote a letter to President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday and said he'd like to buy The Kraal in Johannesburg and hand it over to the government of India. He sought permission for the money transfer to the owner to facilitate the buyout.

Earlier this year, business tycoon Vijay Mallya bought Mahatma Gandhi's round-rimmed spectacles, a pocket watch, a pair of sandals, a plate and bowl and letters from James Ottis for $1.8 million (Rs 9 crore) at an auction in New York.