'Piprahwa': India stops Sotheby's Hong Kong from auctioning Lord Buddha era relics

New Delhi: Union Ministry of Culture has taken prompt and decisive action to prevent the auction of the sacred Piprahwa relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

It reaffirms India’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural and religious heritage. These relics, unearthed from the Piprahwa Stupa—widely believed to be part of the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha—are of profound historical and spiritual importance.

Discovered by William Claxton Peppé in 1898, the relics comprise bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and valuable offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets identifies these as the relics of Lord Buddha, enshrined by the Sakya clan. Most of the artifacts were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899 and are designated ‘AA’ antiquities under Indian law, prohibiting their sale or export. While a portion of the bone relics was gifted to the King of Siam, some items retained by Peppé’s descendants have now been listed for auction.

In response, the Ministry of Culture undertook the following measures:

It gathered comprehensive information about the auction and issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong demanding the immediate suspension of the sale. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also contacted the Consulate General in Hong Kong to press local authorities to stop the auction.

On May 2, 2025, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised the issue during a bilateral meeting with Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, stressing the sacred value of the relics and urging prompt action to halt the auction and support their repatriation.

A high-level review meeting was convened on May 5, 2025, by the Secretary of Culture to strategize on further steps. The Ministry of External Affairs has been tasked with involving its embassies in the UK and Hong Kong through the Europe West and East Asia Divisions to ensure the sale is stopped.

The Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) has been asked to work with its Hong Kong counterpart to emphasize the auction’s illegality and ensure compliance with international heritage protection laws.

In response to the legal notice, Ivy Wong, Associate General Counsel at Sotheby’s, assured that the matter is receiving their full attention.

The Ministry of Culture remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting India’s cultural treasures and securing the return of the Piprahwa Relics. It calls upon Sotheby’s Hong Kong to immediately withdraw the sacred artifacts from the auction and cooperate with Indian authorities to facilitate their rightful repatriation.