In a letter shared on social media, India’s ministry of culture has threatened legal proceedings, stating that the sale infringes on both Indian and international laws and UN conventions regarding cultural heritage. The government has categorized the jewels, which include nearly 1,800 items like rubies and sapphires, as sacred relics that should be returned to their rightful place in India.
The letter calls into question Peppé’s authority to auction the relics, claiming that Sotheby’s is complicit in ongoing "colonial exploitation". Peppé, the great-grandson of the original excavator, has defended the auction as a necessary step, suggesting previous attempts to donate the relics were hindered by various challenges.
India argues that the historical items cannot be merely treated as “duplicates” and insists they embody an inalienable part of the nation’s cultural heritage. The ministry has urged Sotheby’s to issue a public apology, disclose records of ownership, and comply with their demands to avoid legal action.
As the auction approaches, the stakes are high not just for the Peppé family, who hope to transfer these relics to practicing Buddhists, but also for India, which seeks to rectify what it sees as a lingering colonial injustice tied to its rich historical legacy.
The letter calls into question Peppé’s authority to auction the relics, claiming that Sotheby’s is complicit in ongoing "colonial exploitation". Peppé, the great-grandson of the original excavator, has defended the auction as a necessary step, suggesting previous attempts to donate the relics were hindered by various challenges.
India argues that the historical items cannot be merely treated as “duplicates” and insists they embody an inalienable part of the nation’s cultural heritage. The ministry has urged Sotheby’s to issue a public apology, disclose records of ownership, and comply with their demands to avoid legal action.
As the auction approaches, the stakes are high not just for the Peppé family, who hope to transfer these relics to practicing Buddhists, but also for India, which seeks to rectify what it sees as a lingering colonial injustice tied to its rich historical legacy.
