The jewels were taken from India during British colonial rule.
The recent attempt to auction sacred Buddha jewels in Hong Kong has sparked outrage among scholars, Buddhist leaders, and the Indian government. These relics, unearthed in Piprahwa, India, in 1898, are not mere artefacts—they are deeply significant spiritual and historical treasures that belong to the global Buddhist community and, most importantly, to India.
The jewels, discovered alongside bone fragments believed to be those of the Buddha himself, were originally buried in a stupa in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh. The inscription on one of the caskets confirms that these relics were deposited by the Sakya clan, the Buddha’s own family. This alone establishes India as the rightful custodian of these sacred objects.
India’s Ministry of Culture has rightly intervened, issuing a legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong, demanding the immediate halt of the auction. The sale of these relics violates Indian laws, international norms, and UN conventions. The Piprahwa relics are classified as “AA” antiquities under Indian law, meaning they cannot be removed or sold. Their auction would not only perpetuate colonial injustices but also disregard the sanctity of Buddhist heritage.
The jewels were taken from India during British colonial rule, a time when countless cultural treasures were removed from their rightful places. The British government has previously repatriated Buddhist relics, acknowledging their sacred significance. The same principle must apply here. The descendants of William Claxton Peppé, the British colonial explorer who excavated the relics, have no moral or legal right to sell them.
The auction of these relics is not just an issue for India—it is an affront to Buddhists worldwide. The jewels are imbued with the presence of the Buddha and should be treated with reverence, not as commodities. The global Buddhist community must unite in demanding their return to India, where they can be preserved and venerated.
India’s claim to the Buddha jewels is not just about ownership—it is about justice, heritage, and respect for religious traditions. The auction must be permanently halted, and the relics must be repatriated to India, where they rightfully belong. Anything less would be a betrayal of history and faith.
* Nephew of the Dalai Lama, Khedroob Thondup is a geopolitical analyst.