Meet, a Gandhian by antique collection in Tamil Nadu

THRISSUR - A septuagenarian in Tamil Nadu’s Thrissur district has raised a big collection of antiques that includes several belongings of Mahatma Gandhi.

Antony Chittatukara, a retired teacher, has a vast collection that includes Mahatma Gandhi’s spectacles, the ‘charkha’ or, spinning wheel and a few letters and prayer books signed by the Father of the Nation.

He claims that his collection of Gandhian items is original.

Besides Gandhi’s articles Chittatukara has also collected several other antique pieces such as lamp stands, bells and many other items.

“I collect anything and everything. From idols, books, pictures, lamp stands, so many other household utensils, everything,” said Chittatukara.

He values a pinch of blood stained soil collected from Birla House in national capital New Delhi, where Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948, to be the most valuable of all pieces of his special collection.

The soil was collected by a former jawan, P. P. Nambiar, who was present when Gandhi was shot dead.

“It’s my privilege. Rather, I am proud of this collection,” he said.

He also possesses around 10 letters and a prayer book with the writings of Gandhi in Gujarati.

He tells that the spinning wheel of Gandhi was actually gifted to him by eminent Gandhian, Naduvilapt Raghava Poduval.

Although millions of dollars have been offered to him by foreign agencies, Chittatukara says, he does not want to sell or donate any of the items. by Juhan Samuel (ANI)