Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Bringing them home: On the repatriation of the Piprahwa relics

Bringing them home: On the repatriation of the Piprahwa relics

India must have norms to keep sacred relics from being sold

The recent repatriation (स्वदेश-वापसी, पुनः स्वदेश भेजना) of the Piprahwa relics, which were excavated (खुदाई करना, उत्खनन करना) in 1898 from a stupa in Uttar Pradesh, marked an important episode in India’s cultural diplomacy efforts. Considered to be physical remnants associated with Lord Buddha’s mortal remains and his early followers, they were taken away in the colonial era and resurfaced (To appear again or to cover with a new surface) for auction by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in May. At this point, the Indian government intervened to halt the auction and repatriate the relics. These artifacts now reside in the National Museum, providing people the opportunity to engage directly with an irreplaceable (अप्रतिस्थापनीय) piece of India’s and Buddhism’s heritage. Notably, India’s coordinated diplomatic effort, involving multiple ministries and its missions abroad, could persuade (मनाना, राज़ी करना) Sotheby’s to postpone and eventually cancel the auction. The Godrej Industries Group’s ability to acquire the relics through a negotiated arrangement with Sotheby’s also reflects an innovative public-private partnership. Thus, the collaboration enabled the repatriation as well as the setting of a good precedent for future recoveries, combining private sector resources with state authority. The episode also raised awareness worldwide about India’s role as a steward (संरक्षक, प्रबंधक) of Buddhist heritage.

However, the case has also revealed certain structural deficiencies in the framework within which India operates to recover and safeguard its cultural assets. The relics, excavated during British administration, originally had a fragmented ownership, resulting in a complex legal status that vexed repatriation claims a century later. India’s reactive posture in the episode also reflected gaps in the existing legal, administrative (प्रशासनिक), and preventive infrastructure to manage heritage. That the auction was publicly announced and scheduled before India intervened is revealing. The case also exposed the absence of robust (मजबूत, सशक्त) international legal frameworks designed to prevent the sale of culturally sensitive objects. While India used existing national laws and international negotiations effectively in this instance, it also banked on diplomatic pressure, which is not a scalable (Able to grow or be expanded easily) solution. To address these gaps, the country needs a centralised, digitised registry of cultural assets (domestic and overseas) integrated with international customs and auction houses for real-time monitoring, proactive tracking, and to receive early alerts of potential sales. The government could also spearhead (नेतृत्व करना) or actively participate in international efforts to develop binding norms to keep sacred relics from being commercialised. Scaling up public-private partnerships is equally imperative (अत्यावश्यक, अनिवार्य), together with encouraging the involvement of diverse stakeholders, including philanthropic (परोपकारी) foundations and heritage trusts, to mobilise additional resources and expertise for recovery and conservation.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Repatriation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्वदेश-वापसी, पुनः स्वदेश भेजना
English Meaning - The act of returning someone to their own country.

2.Excavate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - खुदाई करना, उत्खनन करना
English Meaning - To dig out material from the ground.

3.Irreplaceable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अप्रतिस्थापनीय
English Meaning - Too valuable or unique to be replaced.

4.Persuade (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - मनाना, राज़ी करना
English Meaning - To convince someone to do or believe something.

5.Steward (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - संरक्षक, प्रबंधक
English Meaning - A person who manages or looks after something.

6.Administrative (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासनिक
English Meaning - Related to managing and organizing work.

7.Robust (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - मजबूत, सशक्त
English Meaning - Strong and healthy; capable of withstanding difficulties.

8.Spearhead (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - नेतृत्व करना
English Meaning - To lead an initiative or movement.

9.Imperative (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अत्यावश्यक, अनिवार्य
English Meaning - Absolutely necessary or urgent.

10.Philanthropic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परोपकारी
English Meaning - Showing a desire to help others, especially through donations or charity.

11.Resurface (Verb)

English Meaning - To appear again or to cover with a new surface.

12.Scalable (Adjective)

English Meaning - Able to grow or be expanded easily.