India has called for the immediate suspension of an auction in Hong Kong featuring Buddhist relics excavated over a century ago, describing the sale as illegal and unethical. The Ministry of Culture issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong and to Chris Peppe, a descendant of the British colonial officer who unearthed the items at Piprahwa in 1898.
The relics, listed for auction on 7 May under the title The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, include bone fragments, crystal and soapstone reliquaries, gold ornaments, and precious stones such as garnets, pearls, and amethysts. They were originally buried in a stupa in Piprahwa, now in Uttar Pradesh, and are believed to date from the Mauryan Empire, circa 240–200 BC.
The Indian government argues that the relics are an inseparable part of the country’s religious and cultural heritage and are protected under Indian law as ‘AA’ antiquities, making their sale or export prohibited. The ministry accused Sotheby’s of “participating in continued colonial exploitation” and stated that the items must be treated as sacred, not as archaeological specimens.
Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised the issue with UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during a bilateral meeting on 2 May, urging swift intervention. The Ministry of External Affairs has been asked to engage through diplomatic channels in Hong Kong and the UK, while the Financial Intelligence Unit coordinates with its Hong Kong counterpart.
Chris Peppe, who now lives in Los Angeles, maintains that the relics are not corporeal remains of the Buddha but later offerings, and that ownership is legally unchallenged. However, the Indian government has rejected this interpretation, calling for a public apology and the disclosure of any additional relics in the family’s possession. Legal action in Indian and Hong Kong courts has been threatened.
