Outrage in Nagaland erupted over a planned auction of Naga human remains by Swan Fine Art in the UK, scheduled for October 9. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) first brought the issue to light, advocating for immediate intervention. They urged Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to contact the UK’s High Commissioner to halt the auction of the “19th century horned Naga human skull,” valued between £3,500 and £4,000. This item was part of the “The Curious Collector Sale” in Oxfordshire, accompanied by other antiquities.
FNR’s grievances focus on the emotional and cultural significance of Naga ancestral remains, decrying such auctions as relics of colonial violence and demanding their repatriation. Collaborating with the Recover, Restore and Decolonize Team (RRaD), FNR emphasized the auction’s urgency amid ongoing efforts to reclaim Naga heritage from Oxford University’s Pitt Rivers Museum.
Chief Minister Rio responded swiftly, appealing to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar for intervention. In his plea, he criticized the auction as an affront to Naga customs, which honor the remains of the deceased, labeling it a dehumanizing act. The CM stressed the importance of respecting Naga cultural rights and urged the Indian High Commission in the UK to act swiftly.
Amid mounting objections, social media users expressed indignation, and academic figures like Dr. Dolly Kikon, Director at the Centre for South Asian Studies, University of California, joined calls to stop the auction. Laura Van Broekhoven, Director of Pitt Rivers Museum, denounced the auction as “completely unethical.”
Responding to growing pressure, Swan Fine Art removed the Naga human remains from their auction list without releasing a formal statement. The swift withdrawal underscores the collective demand for respecting Indigenous human remains and restoring them to their rightful communities.
Original Story https://www.morungexpress.com/outrage-erupts-over-auction-of-naga-human-remain-in-uk
Category : Nagaland
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