Indian Government Threatens Action Against Sotheby’s
The Indian government has threatened to take legal action against Sotheby’s in Hong Kong unless they stop an upcoming auction of jewels associated with the remains of the Buddha. The auction, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, includes gemstones that were buried with Buddha’s bone fragments over a hundred years ago.
Background of the Auction
The Indian Ministry of Culture has stated that the sale "violates" both Indian and international laws, as well as UN conventions, and has requested that the jewels be returned to India as sacred objects. The sale has been condemned by several Buddhists and art scholars worldwide.
Response from Sotheby’s
The BBC has reached out to Sotheby’s for comment. The Indian Ministry has published a letter sent to Sotheby’s and Chris Peppé, the great-grandson of William Claxton Peppé, who excavated the relics in 1898. Sotheby’s has declared that it has received the legal notice and is giving the matter its "full attention".
History of the Relics
William Claxton Peppé was an English estate manager who excavated a stupa in Piprahwa, south of Lumbini, the believed birthplace of Buddha. He discovered and consecrated relics that were almost 2,000 years old. The finds included nearly 1,800 gemstones, including rubies, topaz, sapphires, and patterned gold leaves that were stored in a brick chamber. This location is now in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Dispute Over Ownership
The Indian Ministry has said that the name "duplicates" is misleading and that these relics make up the "inalienable religious and cultural heritage" of India. The jewels "cannot be treated as copies", but as a "holy body and originally buried offering to the holy body of the Buddha". The ministry has also questioned the custody of the jewels, stating that the sellers do not have the right to "alienate or abuse the asset", which it describes as an "extraordinary legacy of mankind".
Demands from the Indian Ministry
The Indian Ministry has asked for a public apology from Sotheby’s and Peppé, as well as full disclosure of all records that pertain to the ownership of the relics that are still in their possession or have been transferred by them. The ministry has declared that failure to meet its demands would lead to legal proceedings in India and Hong Kong due to "violation of cultural heritage law". It has also threatened to start a "public campaign" highlighting Sotheby’s role in perpetuating "colonial injustice".
Previous Statements from Chris Peppé
Previously, Chris Peppé had told the BBC that the family had considered donating the relics, but all options had problems, and an auction seemed to be the best way to "transfer these relics to Buddhists". Chris Peppé wrote that the jewels had passed to him and two other cousins in 2013. The gemstones have been presented in large exhibitions in the past six years, including one at The Met in 2023. The Peppé family has also started a website to "share our research".
Conclusion
In its statement, however, the Indian Ministry said that the custody of the jewels "was re-enacted by advertising and exhibition". The ministry has requested that Sotheby’s and Peppé take immediate action to rectify the situation and return the relics to India. The outcome of this dispute remains to be seen, but it has sparked a global debate about cultural heritage and the ownership of historical artifacts.
