India Reclaims Sacred Piprahwa Buddha Relics

The sacred Piprahwa relics, including over 300 gems and bone fragments believed to be linked to Lord Buddha and dating to the Mauryan Empire, have been returned to India after resurfacing at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong in 2025. Originally excavated in 1898 by British engineer William Claxton Peppé from a stupa in present-day Uttar Pradesh, the relics were removed during colonial rule and remained in private hands for over a century. Their repatriation was secured through legal action by the Indian government, with significant assistance from industrialist Pirojsha Godrej and Godrej Industries Group, resulting in the auction's cancellation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat celebrated the return, calling it a moment of national pride and cultural restoration. The relics are to be displayed at the National Museum and other venues as part of India's broader effort to reclaim artefacts taken during colonial times. The episode is being hailed as a model of public-private partnership and a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to preserving its ancient heritage.