Editor’s Note
This article details the successful return of the Piprahwa relics to India following diplomatic efforts, highlighting the ongoing global dialogue concerning cultural heritage and repatriation.
After weeks of diplomatic and legal pressure, the world-renowned auction house Sotheby’s has cancelled the proposed sale of ancient relics linked to Buddha and returned them to India. The collection of 334 relics, collectively known as the Piprahwa relics, was originally buried in a stupa in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, in northern India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the return of the relics as a joyous day for cultural heritage.
The collection was originally discovered by British colonial officer and amateur archaeologist William Claxton Peppé at a site in Piprahwa. The British Raj took possession of the Peppé family’s find under the 1878 Indian Treasure Act, but allowed the family to keep a fifth of the 1,800 relics. The crown jewels went to a colonial museum in Kolkata. The family consigned their artifacts to Sotheby’s, where they were slated for auction in Hong Kong in early May.
The sale was cancelled after the Indian government demanded the return of the relics and threatened legal action. The government argued that the relics should be considered the sacred body of Buddha, and that proceeding with the auction would be akin to participating in colonial exploitation. The auction was set to start with an opening bid of 100 million Hong Kong dollars (9.7 million pounds). The collection included bone fragments, crystal and soapstone relics, gold ornaments, and precious stones like garnet, pearl, coral, and sapphire.
Following the announcement of the auction, India’s Ministry of Culture accused Sotheby’s of participating in ongoing colonial exploitation and stated that the relics should be regarded not as archaeological specimens but as the “sacred body” of Buddha, worthy of religious reverence.