The Indian government has raised an alarm over an impending auction by Sotheby's in Hong Kong, which features jewels linked to the remains of the Buddha. The auction, scheduled for Wednesday, includes gems discovered along with the Buddha's bone fragments over a century ago. India's Ministry of Culture is poised to take legal action against Sotheby’s and has formally requested the return of the jewels, stressing they are sacred and should not be sold.
In its statement, the Indian ministry expressed concerns that the sale contravenes both Indian and international laws, as well as various UN conventions aimed at protecting cultural heritage. This auction has been met with outrage from numerous Buddhist organizations and art scholars around the world. A letter posted by the ministry on Instagram outlined its sentiments, emphasizing that the great-grandson of the original excavator, Chris Peppé, lacks the authority to sell these relics.
The auction house has acknowledged receiving the legal notice and asserted that it is treating the situation with the utmost seriousness. The jewels were initially unearthed by **William Claxton Peppé**, an English estate manager, in 1898 at Piprahwa, near Lumbini, a site considered the birthplace of the Buddha. His excavation yielded a considerable collection of nearly 1,800 jewels, including valuable pieces like rubies and sapphires, which were interred within a brick chamber alongside bone relics.
After the discovery, Peppé transferred the relics to the colonial Indian government, while only retaining a small portion he labeled as duplicates. The Indian Ministry contends that this classification is misleading and asserts that the relics form an essential part of India's rich cultural heritage. It argues that the gems cannot merely be treated as artifacts but should be respected as sacred offerings linked to the Buddha.
Additionally, the ministry has called into question the legitimacy of those currently claiming custodianship over the jewels, suggesting that they do not possess the rights to "alienate or misappropriate" these culturally significant artifacts. The ministry has also referenced past instances highlighting the inadequate stewardship of the relics, emphasizing their cultural and historical value.
To resolve the ongoing dispute, the Indian government seeks a public apology from Sotheby’s and Chris Peppé, alongside a demand for full transparency regarding the ownership history of the relics. Failure to comply could lead to legal repercussions in both India and Hong Kong, with threats of a public campaign to denounce Sotheby’s involvement in what the ministry calls the perpetuation of "colonial injustice."
Despite Chris Peppé's assertion that auctioning the jewels appears to be the fairest and most transparent method to transfer ownership to appropriate Buddhist custodians, the Indian government remains adamant about protecting its cultural heritage. Peppé’s family has expressed intentions to potentially donate the relics in the past but cited complications with various proposals. Recently, these jewels have been displayed in prominent exhibitions, including one at The Met earlier this year.
As the situation unfolds, the spotlight remains on Sotheby’s and the Peppé family, amid growing calls for ethical considerations in the handling of cultural relics.
