The Indian government has successfully secured the return of ancient gem relics connected to the remains of the Buddha, two months after an auction of these items was halted in Hong Kong. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in a post on X that the repatriation of the Piprahwa gems after 127 years represents a “joyous day for our cultural heritage.”
The decision to halt the auction of the gems in May was made after the Indian culture ministry issued threats of legal action against the auction house, Sotheby’s, in both Indian and Hong Kong courts, as well as through international bodies, for violating cultural heritage laws.
This move comes as many Buddhists hold the belief that the gems are imbued with the presence of the Buddha and should be treated as human remains. The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that the artifacts will be formally presented during a special ceremony and put on public display. The Indian government collaborated with Godrej Industries Group to secure the purchase of the gems.
The prime minister wrote, “It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture.”
The decision to auction the gems by the descendants of William Claxton Peppé, a British colonial landowner, generated an international outcry from Buddhist leaders, academics, and devotees. The collection of 334 precious stones, anticipated to sell for about HK$100m (£9.7m), includes amethysts, coral, garnets, pearls, rock crystals, shells, and gold.
Originally, these gems were discovered by Peppé on his estate in northern India in 1898 and buried in a dome-shaped monument called a stupa in Piprahwa. The British crown claimed the find under the 1878 Indian Treasure Trove Act, with the bones and ash offered to King Chulalongkorn of Siam. The majority of the gems ended up at the Indian Museum in Kolkata, while Peppé retained around a fifth of them.
Sotheby’s expressed delight at facilitating the gems’ return to India, commenting on their successful efforts over the past two months to find a suitable custodian for the collection. Pirojsha Godrej, executive vice-chair of Godrej Industries Group, praised the historic significance of the event, calling the gems “timeless symbols of peace, compassion, and the shared heritage of humanity.”
Chris Peppé, the grandson of William Claxton Peppé, acknowledged his family’s excitement at the repatriation of the gems, noting their hope that the true significance of the discovery will now receive the public attention it always deserved.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/a-joyous-day-india-celebrates-return-of-ancient-gems-linked-to-the-buddha
