India Seeks Halt to Hong Kong Auction of Sacred Buddha Relics

India has strongly objected to the planned auction of sacred Buddhist relics, known as the Piprahwa gems, by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, demanding their immediate return and labeling the sale illegal and unethical. The relics, which include gemstones and ritual items believed to be associated with the Buddha and excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa in 1898, are considered an integral part of India’s religious and cultural heritage. The Ministry of Culture has issued legal notices to both Sotheby’s and a descendant of the British colonial officer who discovered the relics, asserting that their sale violates Indian and international laws, as well as United Nations conventions. Indian authorities have also reached out to foreign officials and warned of potential legal action in multiple jurisdictions if the auction proceeds. The ministry accuses Sotheby’s of perpetuating colonial exploitation and has called for a public apology and full disclosure of provenance documents. Most of the relics had previously been transferred to India’s national museum, but a portion retained by the discoverer’s descendants is now at the center of the dispute.