PM Mementos e-auction opens with 1,498 gifts, artefacts, cultural treasures

The eighth PM Mementos e-auction has opened with 1,498 gifts presented to Narendra Modi. The sale turns public interest in heritage artefacts into funds for the Namami Gange Programme.

The eighth edition of the PM Mementos e-auction has begun, offering 1,498 mementos and gifts presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different occasions across the country. The auction opened on the morning of September 17, coinciding with his 76th birthday, and will continue till October 31.

The collection includes a silver replica of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, a handcrafted replica of the Royal Navy flagship HMS Victory, a zardozi artwork depicting the modern convention centre in Daman, sports memorabilia, naval models and religious art.

The Culture Ministry said the e-auction celebrates India's heritage, art, craftsmanship and cultural diversity, while also enabling public participation and contributing to the Namami Gange Programme.

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said more than 7,400 objects were auctioned in the first seven editions, raising Rs 52 crore. He said the current collection reflects the country's artistic and spiritual traditions, traditional craftsmanship, cultural practices and sporting achievements.

This edition includes 50 identified hero objects. Among them are a silver memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka with a base price of Rs 13.50 lakh, a silver replica of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam with a starting price of Rs 9 lakh, and a framed Tree of Life Gond art painting at a base price of Rs 7.5 lakh.

Also listed are Lord Jagannath Parivar on chariot at Rs 6 lakh and a gold-plated framed Radha Krishna artwork at Rs 5.40 lakh.

The Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, also known as the Warangal Gate, is a 12th-century stone gateway from the Kakatiya dynasty. It was once part of the Swayambhu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its carvings and its link to the region's cultural heritage.

The Lord Ram replica shows the deity standing on an ornamented lotus pedestal, wearing jewellery and flowing garments, holding a bow and arrow in one hand, while the right hand is in the Abhaya mudra, symbolising fearlessness and protection, according to the e-auction website.

Also on offer is a model replica of HMS Victory with a base price of Rs 2.25 lakh. According to the website, the model captures Lord Nelson's vessel with multi-tier gun decks in its yellow and black stripe design, mounted on brass supports over a polished wooden plinth with an official metal nameplate and miniature Indian flags.

The auction also includes sports memorabilia containing a pair of running spike shoes gifted to the prime minister by a Paralympic silver medallist, and a handcrafted commemorative artwork, priced at Rs 1.20 lakh, depicting the modern convention centre in Daman through zardozi embroidery.

Among the other lots are a top-view scale model of INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Indian Navy's advanced stealth guided missile frigates, with a base price of Rs 66,000, and a BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham North America temple miniature 3D model priced at Rs 4,500.

The model recreates the Robbinsville, New Jersey temple with intricate stone-like carvings, multiple spires and a decorative flag on top.

A commemorative 3D architectural model of the Lok Sabha chamber inside the new Parliament House is also part of the auction, with a starting bid of Rs 45,000.

The website says, "This exceptional artifact features detailed relief work, showcasing the triangular architecture, the iconic green parliamentary seating layout, the state emblem of India atop the roof, and dedicated cutouts celebrating the historic women reservation bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)."

Shekhawat said the wider collection includes objects linked to states such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar and Odisha.

With 1,498 items on offer, the eighth PM Mementos e-auction brings together religious art, cultural pieces, sporting memorabilia and scale models, while continuing to raise funds through public participation for the Namami Gange Programme.