India has recovered a set of ancient Buddhist relics more than a century after they were taken during the British colonial period.
According to international media reports, the relics, believed to date back to around the third century BCE, were discovered in 1898 by British officer William Claxton Peppe in northern India. They had been removed from the country during colonial rule.
In a statement, the Ministry of Culture of India confirmed that the relics, which had been scheduled for auction in May, were successfully secured ahead of the sale.
The ministry said that these relics have long held profound spiritual significance for the Buddhist community and represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries in India’s history.
It was also announced that the relics would soon be placed on public display, although no further details regarding the exhibition have been provided.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the development, stating in a post on the social media platform X that the Piprahwa relics, discovered in 1898, were taken from India during the colonial era. He added that when the items resurfaced in an international auction earlier this year, the government acted promptly to ensure their return.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Culture issued a legal notice in May to Sotheby’s, the auction house responsible for the planned sale, demanding the cancellation of the auction and the repatriation of the relics to India.
