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After lukewarm response, PM mementos e-auction extended by a month

The auction of gifts received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visits across the country over the last year was to conclude on October 2. It has now been extended till October 31.

Badminton rackets by Paralympic shuttlers Nithya Sre Sivan and Sukant Kadam have not registered any bids so far as part of the ongoing auction of the PM’s mementos. (Photo: pmmementos.gov)

A pair of spike shoes presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Paralympic silver medallist Ajit Singh, badminton rackets by Paralympic shuttlers Nithya Sre Sivan and Sukant Kadam, and silver medallist Yogesh Khatuniya’s discuss — all with a minimum bidding price of Rs 5 lakh upwards — have not registered any bids so far as part of the ongoing auction of the PM’s mementos.

These remain among the 79 objects that have not received any bids in the 15 days that the auction has been going on. Featuring over 600 objects ranging from paintings, sculptures and indigenous handicrafts to traditional angavastram and headgear, this year’s edition of the auction started on September 17 and was to conclude on October 2.

However, with several objects still to find takers, the date has now been extended by almost a month, with the auction closing on October 31. “Originally scheduled from 17th September to 2nd October, 2024, the auction will now be open for participation until 31st October 2024,” said a statement released by the Ministry of Culture on Wednesday, which organises the auction every year.

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While the memorabilia donated by Paralympic champions are the star items of this year’s edition with the highest base price, other key items include a replica of the Ram temple and even a silver veena – all gifts received by PM Modi during his visits across the country over the last year.

The cumulative base price of all the items together comes to around Rs 1.5 crore, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told reporters ahead of the auction while conducting a walk-through of the exhibition showcasing some of the objects at the National Gallery of Modern Art. He said the base prices for these gifts are set by a government committee, with prices ranging from as low as Rs 600 to as high as Rs 8.26 lakh.

The current e-auction marks the sixth edition in a series of auctions, initially launched in January 2019. As with previous editions, the proceeds from this edition of the auction will also be contributed to the Namami Gange Project, the Centre’s flagship initiative dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the Ganga and its fragile ecosystem.

The highest-priced mementos are encased sports shoes of Paralympic bronze medallists Ajeet Singh and Simran Sharma and silver medallist Nishad Kumar as well as a signed cap of silver medallist Sharad Kumar – priced around Rs 8.26 lakh. Sivan and Kadam’s badminton rackets and Khatuniya’s discus have been priced at Rs 5.50 lakh.

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A model of Ram Temple priced at Rs 5.50 lakh, a peacock statue valued at Rs 3.30 lakh, a statue of Ram Darbar priced at Rs 2.76 lakh and silver veena priced at Rs 1.65 lakh are among the other high-end mementos. The lowest-priced mementos include cotton angavastram, caps, and shawls, priced at Rs 600 each, which have registered the most bids this time.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

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