India’s Ministry of Culture has initiated measures to halt the auction of Piprahwa relics, linked to Lord Buddha, scheduled by Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The artifacts, excavated in 1898 from the Piprahwa Stupa in Uttar Pradesh, include bone fragments and caskets. The site is closely associated with Buddha’s early life.

Classified as ‘AA’ antiquities under Indian law, the relics are prohibited from sale or export. While some were transferred to the Indian Museum, Kolkata, in 1899, a portion retained by the family of British excavator William Claxton Peppé has been listed for auction.

The ministry issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s and directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to request intervention via Hong Kong’s Consulate General.

During a bilateral meeting with UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on May 2, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised the relics’ significance and sought repatriation efforts.

A high-level meeting on May 5 outlined further steps, including engagement by the Ministry of External Affairs with embassies in the UK and Hong Kong.

The Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) will collaborate with Hong Kong authorities to enforce international laws.

The Indian government issued a detailed legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong and Chris Peppé, descendant of British colonial excavator William Claxton Peppé. The Ministry of Culture called the sale a “violation of Indian law, international conventions, and the sanctity of Buddhist heritage,” demanding immediate cancellation and repatriation.

The notice asserts the relics are “inalienable religious and cultural heritage” protected under India’s Antiquities and Art Treasures Act (1972), which designates them as ‘AA’-grade antiquities. It clarifies that while some relics were transferred to Kolkata’s Indian Museum in 1899 and others gifted to the King of Siam, the Peppé family retained items erroneously labeled as “duplicate jewels” under temporary custodianship.

“The term ‘duplicate’ is historically and religiously inaccurate,” the notice reads, citing Brahmi inscriptions confirming the relics were interred by the Sakya clan as offerings to the Buddha.

“These sacred grave goods are inseparable from the Buddha’s remains. To commodify them violates Buddhist theology and international ethical norms.”

Challenging Sotheby’s description of the Peppé family as “custodians,” the notice states, “Custodianship does not grant rights to alienate or misappropriate assets. The relics belong to the Buddha, the Sakya clan, and India, where the stupa stands.”

It references a 2004 Sunday Times report revealing the relics were “forgotten in a shoebox at the bottom of a cabinet,” countering claims of reverent preservation. “Monetizing custodianship through publicity and exhibition contradicts the sacred responsibility entrusted to custodians,” the notice adds.

Under Indian law, the relics are classified as state property under the Ancient Monuments Act (1958) and the Treasure Trove Act (1878), which vested ownership with the colonial government at the time of excavation.

“Mr. Peppé was granted temporary custody, not ownership. India’s post-independence laws affirm the state’s sole rights over such antiquities,” the notice states.

Internationally, it invokes the UNESCO 1970 Convention (ratified by India and China/Hong Kong) and the UNIDROIT 1995 Convention, which mandate the return of illegally exported cultural property.

“No legal export documentation exists for these relics. Their sale contravenes Article 3 of UNIDROIT, requiring repatriation of illicitly removed artifacts,” it adds.

The ministry cites precedents, including the 1952 return of Sanchi Stupa relics from the UK’s Victoria & Albert Museum and the ongoing repatriation of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, to underscore a “global ethical shift” against colonial-era acquisitions.

“Just as the Benin Bronzes symbolize the suffering of the Edo people, these relics represent the spiritual legacy of millions of Buddhists. Their sale perpetuates colonial injustice,” the notice argues.

Highlighting religious sensitivities, the document quotes the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Code of Ethics, which requires museums to handle sacred materials “in a manner consistent with the beliefs of their communities of origin.”

It condemns the auction as “an affront to 500 million Buddhists,” noting objections from groups like the British Maha Bodhi Society.

“The Buddha’s relics are not art market commodities but objects of veneration. Their sale desecrates a global spiritual legacy,” the notice states. Ethical concerns are amplified by comparisons to halted auctions, such as Sotheby’s 2019 withdrawal of an Egyptian artifact after looting claims and the 2024 Graceland Auction controversy.

“Auction houses have a duty to avoid profiting from contested heritage,” the notice says, accusing Sotheby’s of “condoning grave robbery and colonial exploitation.”

India demands Sotheby’s immediately cancel the auction, repatriate the relics through diplomatic channels, issue a public apology, and disclose all provenance documents and details of relics held by the Peppé family. Non-compliance risks “legal action in Indian and Hong Kong courts, UNESCO interventions, and global advocacy campaigns exposing Sotheby’s role in cultural commodification.”

The Ministry expressed openness to negotiations but warned, “The relics’ sanctity cannot be bargained. Their return is non-negotiable.” Sotheby’s Associate General Counsel Ivy Wong acknowledged the notice, stating, “Full attention is given to this matter.”

The auction remains scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30am in Hong Kong. (Hindustan Times)

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The holy relics of Lord Buddha, enshrined at a vihara in Uttar Pradesh’s Sarnath, reached Ho Chi Minh City on Friday in an IAF aircraft for an exposition during the gala celebrations of the United Nations Day of Vesak being hosted by Vietnam.

Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Tourism and Culture of Andhra Pradesh Kandula Durgesh, revered monks and senior officials from India accompanied the sacred relics, which were transported by the special aircraft, the government said in a statement.

Mr Rijiju is leading the government delegation to Vietnam.

“Arrived in Vietnam leading the high-level Indian delegation with the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha. Grand ceremonial reception was accorded by the Govt of Vietnam & Vietnam Buddhist Sanghas. The Holy Relics will be in Vietnam from 2nd-21st May 2025 for UN Vesak Day celebrations,” Mr Rijiju posted on X and also shared some photos.

The visit is taking place in the context of the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak celebrations being hosted by Vietnam from May 6-8, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said in a statement on Friday.

The holy relics of Lord Buddha were transported to Vietnam by the special IAF aircraft from the Hindan Air Base in Ghaziabad, befitting the status of a “State Guest”, officials said on Thursday.

The sacred relics were ceremonially brought to Delhi on Wednesday and placed in a “special protected enclosure” at the National Museum for prayers for a couple of hours.

On Thursday evening, the holy relics were taken from the National Museum to the Hindan Air Base with full “state honours” in a “special bulletproof vehicle” after rituals at the museum for their onward journey to Vietnam.

The aircraft arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday morning.

The holy relics were received by Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Religious and Ethnic Affairs of Vietnam, Duong Ngoc Hai, Standing Vice-Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Thich Tri Quang and venerable monks of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the statement said.

Special ceremonial prayers were held at the airport on arrival, followed by prayers led by the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the enshrinement of the holy relics at Thanh Tam Monastery, Ho Chi Minh City, it said.

“On the occasion, a sapling of the Sacred Bodhi Tree brought from India was planted by the visiting minister from India and the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at the Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City,” the statement said.

In Vietnam, the sacred relics will be ceremoniously enshrined, venerated and worshipped at several important sites, the culture ministry earlier said.

The holy relics will be at the Thanh Tam Monastery from May 2-7, followed by their exposition in the Tay Ninh, Ha Noi and Ha Nam provinces till May 21, it said.

The sacred relics have been provided through the Mahabodhi Society of India and the National Museum of the government of India with the support of the International Buddha Confederation.

The holy relics hold special significance for the Buddhist community around the world, and their exposition in Vietnam is taking place for the first time.

“India treasures the strong bonds between the people of India and Vietnam and wish that the visit of holy relics to Vietnam and other related activities will further deepen these close ties between India and Vietnam,” it said. (NDTV)

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In a gesture that symbolizes the strengthening of cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, acclaimed artist Mueen Saheed has presented five of his paintings to the historic Shah Allah Ditta caves, commonly known as the Buddha Caves, located in Islamabad. 

This unique donation pays homage to the shared cultural heritage between the two nations and highlights Saheed’s dedication to capturing the history of sacred sites through his abstract narrative style.

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, and National Heritage, Attaullah Tarar, who invited Saheed to depict the storied past of the Buddha Caves, commended the artist’s contribution to promoting tourism in Pakistan. Saheed’s artworks for the site trace a layered history—from relics of the Buddhist era to Hindu and Mughal influences—celebrating the diverse heritage these caves represent.

The Buddha Caves, once a meditation site for monks and later used by Hindu and Muslim ascetics, hold ancient murals dating back to the 8th century and remain a deeply revered historical landmark. Saheed’s pieces will be displayed prominently to invite visitors to reconnect with the ancient past. “It is my hope that these paintings not only honour the history but also inspire a new appreciation for this remarkable site,” Saheed shared.

The collection will also serve as a visual bridge between the traditions of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, spotlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage and inviting future generations to explore these symbolic connections.

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The Global Buddhist Summit scheduled to be held in India on April 20-21 demonstrates a huge opportunity for South East Asian countries to foster stronger ties and address pressing global challenges collectively, The Bhutan Live reported. 

The upcoming summit will undoubtedly amplify India’s role as a supportive neighbour and ally, further solidifying their bonds and encouraging continued cooperation.

Read more:

https://aninews.in/news/world/asia/global-buddhist-summit-to-amplify-indias-role-as-supportive-neighbour-and-ally-report20230411104216/

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