Eighth PM Mementos e-Auction Opens With 1,498 Lots, Led by Silver Ram Idol
Nearly 1,500 mementos gifted to PM Modi go under the hammer in the eighth e-auction, with a silver Lord Ram piece from Karnataka leading the 'Hero Objects'.
The eighth edition of the Prime Minister's Mementos e-Auction opens on Tuesday, offering 1,498 objects that were presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various occasions.
Announcing the sale, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the collection reflects India's artistic traditions, craftsmanship, cultural and spiritual practices, and sporting achievements.
The items have been drawn from across the country, with the largest contingents coming from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar and Odisha.
Fifty 'Hero Objects' in the spotlight
The Culture Ministry has flagged 50 pieces as "Hero Objects", described as among the most distinctive in the collection.
They include a silver memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka carrying a base price of Rs 13.50 lakh, and a silver replica of the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam with a base price of Rs 9 lakh.
Also on the list are a framed Tree of Life Gond art painting priced at Rs 7.50 lakh, a Jagannath Parivar on Chariot with a base price of Rs 6 lakh, and a 99.99 fine gold-plated framed Radha Krishna artwork with a base price of Rs 5.40 lakh.
How to bid
Bidding will take place through the official PM Mementos portal. An accompanying exhibition will let visitors inspect the objects before they take part in the online auction.
The National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi has handled the documentation, exhibition and operational arrangements for the exercise.
Sporting memorabilia has drawn top bids
Sporting items have previously commanded the highest sums at these auctions. In the 2021 edition, the javelin Neeraj Chopra presented to the Prime Minister after his Tokyo Olympics gold drew the top bid of Rs 1.5 crore.
Fencer C A Bhavani Devi's signed sabre fetched Rs 1.25 crore, while Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil's javelin went for Rs 1.002 crore.
Proceeds from the auctions are transferred to the Namami Gange Programme, which works on the rejuvenation and conservation of the Ganga.