Rourkela CA wins 11 gift items of PM in culture ministry’s e-auction | Bhubaneswar News
Rourkela: A Rourkela-based chartered accountant has acquired 11 gift items, which were once presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official engagements, through an e-auction conducted by the Union ministry of culture.
Manoj Kumar Thebaria, 60, who runs a CA firm in Uditnagar, participated in the online auction that was conducted from Sept 1 to Oct 30 last year. “I had been following these auctions since they were first held in Delhi and when I came to know about the online auction, I immediately decided to participate,” Thebaria said while speaking to reporters. He, however, declined to reveal the amount he spent on buying these items, except that it will amount to lakhs.
Among the items secured by Thebaria are metal statues of Maharana Pratap, Lord Hanuman, Ram Darbar and Shiv Parivar. He also obtained a bamboo replica of the Ram Mandir, a wooden statue of Goddess Durga carved from a single piece, four angavastram and a traditional money pouch (potli).
Thebaria, who resides with his family in Civil Township, has displayed the memorabilia in his office. He had initially bid on 32 items throughout the auction period before winning 11 of them. The items were delivered to Thebaria’s doorstep on Jan 6 by one of two trucks distributing auction items nationwide. “All items were carefully packed to prevent damage during transit,” he added.
While declining to disclose the auction prices, Thebaria emphasised the sentimental value of his acquisitions. “These items, having been touched by the PM, are priceless to me and my family, who are great admirers of his leadership,” he said.
The proceeds from the auction will reportedly support the Namami Gange Programme, a national mission for cleaning the Ganga river.
Manoj Kumar Thebaria, 60, who runs a CA firm in Uditnagar, participated in the online auction that was conducted from Sept 1 to Oct 30 last year. “I had been following these auctions since they were first held in Delhi and when I came to know about the online auction, I immediately decided to participate,” Thebaria said while speaking to reporters. He, however, declined to reveal the amount he spent on buying these items, except that it will amount to lakhs.
Among the items secured by Thebaria are metal statues of Maharana Pratap, Lord Hanuman, Ram Darbar and Shiv Parivar. He also obtained a bamboo replica of the Ram Mandir, a wooden statue of Goddess Durga carved from a single piece, four angavastram and a traditional money pouch (potli).
Thebaria, who resides with his family in Civil Township, has displayed the memorabilia in his office. He had initially bid on 32 items throughout the auction period before winning 11 of them. The items were delivered to Thebaria’s doorstep on Jan 6 by one of two trucks distributing auction items nationwide. “All items were carefully packed to prevent damage during transit,” he added.
While declining to disclose the auction prices, Thebaria emphasised the sentimental value of his acquisitions. “These items, having been touched by the PM, are priceless to me and my family, who are great admirers of his leadership,” he said.
The proceeds from the auction will reportedly support the Namami Gange Programme, a national mission for cleaning the Ganga river.
