Repatriation of Cultural Heritage: Lessons from the Piprahwa Relics Case
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Ancient History (Buddhism, Mauryan/Post-Mauryan Period - Stupas), Art & Culture (Protection of Monuments and Artifacts, National Museum), Current Events (Cultural Diplomacy).
Mains:
GS Paper 1: Indian Heritage and Culture, and History of India. (specifically the protection and repatriation of cultural heritage).
GS Paper 2: India and its neighborhood- relations; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests; Role of civil society (including the private sector in governance).
Key Highlights from the News
Main Event: India successfully brought back the Piprahwa relics, believed to be associated with Lord Buddha. These relics were returned after the Indian government intervened in an auction in Hong Kong.
Location: These relics were excavated in 1898 from a stupa in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh.
Procedure: This was an example of successful cultural diplomacy and an innovative public-private partnership. The relics were acquired with the assistance of the Godrej Group. They are now preserved at the National Museum in Delhi.
Shortcomings Revealed:
This event highlighted some shortcomings in India's heritage preservation system. India's reactive posture, responding only after the auction was announced, is a weakness.
There is a lack of strong international legal frameworks to prevent the sale of sacred artifacts.
Way Forward:
Create a centralised, digitised registry of cultural properties within and outside the country.
India should take the lead in formulating strong binding international norms to prevent the commercialization of sacred relics.
Increase public-private partnerships for heritage preservation.
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