Gandhi’s rare pocket watch on display

A pocket-watch that belonged to the Father of the Nation is the cynosure of all eyes at the Kamal Watch Company (KWC) Luxurio. On exhibit for the public, the watch is one among several such priceless objects that are proving a historian’s delight. The watch, which will be on display till Sunday, is among the few that Majatma Gandhi always carried with him on all his travels.

According to Ganesh Ponnuswamy from Zenith Watches, who has brought the collection to the city, Gandhi, who extolled on the virtues of punctuality and precision, was shocked when his watch was stolen while travelling by train to Kanpur.

It is believed that the thief was moved on hearing about the Mahatma’s sorrow and an audience with Gandhi to return the object and seek forgiveness.

Gandhi gifted the watch to his granddaughter Abha Gandhi. The watch subsequently came into the hands of private collectors and has found its way to the city.