New York: Mahatma Gandhi's belongings go under the hammer on Thursday and as that deadline draws near India is making a last-ditch effort to save a slice of history. It is now considering asking the US State Department to intervene.

And if that does not work, several high profile NRIs say they are ready to form a group and jointly bid for Gandhi's belongings and donate them to the nation. One of them is Indian American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal who will be at the auction.

However the Indian government has discouraged any NRI participation in the bidding as that will increase the value of the items.