Inside the house in South Africa where Gandhi lived for three years Photograph: Greg Marinovich
A former home of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa has been bought by a French tourism company, causing bitter disappointment in his birthplace, India.
The Kraal, in a quiet suburb of Johannesburg, was home to Gandhi for three years when he was a young lawyer formulating his philosophy of non-violent resistance.
Its owners of 28 years, Jarrod and Nancy Ball, struggled to attract interest in the property until its availability was reported in a South African newspaper, sparking a worldwide bidding war.
Voyageurs du Monde is believed to have paid in the region of $500,000 (£315,000) for the house. It plans to turn it into a Gandhi museum "in line with its philosophy of investing in heritage properties worldwide".
The Indian government expressed disappointment and said it was not giving up on the house. Sriprakash Jaiswal, the coal minister, was quoted as saying: "The matter concerns national sentiment and I will leave no stone unturned to acquire the historic property and declare it a national monument."
The Balls, who are moving to Cape Town, said they chose Voyageurs du Monde because of its commitment to preserving the rich heritage of the thatched-roof rondavel-style house.
Nancy Ball, a US-born artist, said: "I know India has responded not too happily but we think it went to the right people and we're delighted. One of our end-use conditions was that something be done to protect the heritage."
She said they had been "more than surprised" by the global interest. "It was kind of mindboggling, especially as we had been trying to sell it for more than a year. All of a sudden the time was just right."
Ball said they received four firm bids, and declined to reveal the final sale price. "It will be hard to say goodbye but I'm very much at peace with the next custodian of this property and that's the best way to look at it."
Gandhi lived in South Africa for 21 years, working as a lawyer and activist who fought for the right of Indians in the country to be treated as citizens. He said in his autobiography that he would "always be a South African Indian".
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/09/mahatma-gandhi-south-africa-house
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