Latest news with #IndianMuseum
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
14 minutes ago
- Business
- First Post
Ancient Buddha gems put up for auction return to India after 127 years. Why are they significant?
India has successfully brought back a set of relics linked to Buddha's remains, more than a hundred years after they were taken during British rule. Notably, the jewels were originally discovered in northern India in 1898. They were due to be auctioned by Sotheby's in Hong Kong in May, but the sale was stopped after the Indian government sent a legal notice demanding their return read more These relics are linked to the early years of Buddhism. Image: X/@narendramodi India has successfully brought back a set of relics linked to early Buddhism, over a century after they were taken away during British rule. These sacred Piprahwa relics were recently listed for auction at a global auction house in Hong Kong this May. ALSO READ | Inside India's efforts to bring back its stolen treasures from the US Notably, they were first discovered in the northern part of the country in 1898. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that the return of the Piprahwa relics after 127 years was 'a joyous day for our cultural heritage'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what exactly are these Buddhist relics? And how did India secure their repatriation? Let's find out: What are the Piprahwa gems? These relics are linked to the early years of Buddhism and were taken out of India during British rule, over a hundred years ago. The Piprahwa gems are believed to date back to the third century BC. They were found in 1898 by an Englishman named William Claxton Peppe in northern India. They were discovered in Piprahwa, a village close to the Buddha's birthplace, and are thought to be connected to a clan associated with him. The gems were were mixed with some of the cremated remains of the Buddha. Image Courtesy: Sotheby's British civil engineer William Claxton Peppe discovered the relics in Piprahwa, which is now in Uttar Pradesh. They are believed to relate to the mortal remains of Lord Buddha. Buddha's followers enshrined these remains around the third century BC. They are considered deeply important by Buddhists worldwide and are among India's most important archaeological finds. The collection includes bone fragments, containers made from soapstone and crystal, a sandstone chest, and offerings like gold jewellery and gemstones. One of the caskets has a Brahmi script inscription that identifies the relics as belonging to the Buddha and placed there by the Sakya clan. Most of the items were sent to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899. They are now protected under Indian law as 'AA' antiquities, which means they cannot be sold or taken out of the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A part of the bone relics was given to the King of Siam. Another portion, kept by Peppe's family, was earlier listed for auction. A joyous day for our cultural heritage! It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India's close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2025 How India retrieved them successfully The relics were set to be auctioned by Sotheby's in Hong Kong in May. However, the sale was halted after the Indian government issued a legal notice and asked for their return. Sotheby's later found a buyer and finalised a sale that ensured the permanent return of the artefacts to India, where they will be displayed publicly. The auctioning of Piprahwa gems has sparked a debate. Image Courtesy: Sotheby's In a statement, the Ministry of Culture said, 'This momentous repatriation has been made possible through an exemplary public-private partnership between the government of India and the Godrej Industries Group.' The sacred relics, kept in a box, were received by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Delhi airport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They will be formally unveiled at a special ceremony and placed on public display, allowing people to view and pay their respects, the ministry added. The relics were originally due to be auctioned on May 7 in Hong Kong. The Ministry of Culture said they were 'successfully secured' through 'decisive intervention'. In a separate statement, the auction house said, 'Sotheby's is delighted to have facilitated the return of the Piprahwa Gems to India.' It also said this marked the end of its efforts over two months to find the most suitable custodian for the relics, though it did not name the buyer. On May 5, the ministry confirmed it had sent a legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong, asking for the immediate halt of the auction and the return of the Buddhist relics. By May 7, the ministry announced that it had managed to get the auction postponed and had started the process to bring the artefacts back. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture said, 'The Government of India proudly announces the historic return of the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha to their rightful home in India.' How the relics were discovered In 1898, British engineer William Claxton Peppe excavated a stupa, a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine, in Piprahwa. The site lies just south of Lumbini, which is believed to be the birthplace of the Buddha. The relics found at the site were mixed with some of the Buddha's cremated remains, The Guardian reported. Peppe handed over the relics, gems, and containers to the British colonial authorities in India. The British crown claimed ownership of the discovery under the 1878 Indian Treasure Trove Act. Following this, some of the bone relics were gifted to Buddhist-majority countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. A portion of the bones and ashes believed to be linked to the Buddha were presented to King Chulalongkorn of Siam. Most of the collection, which included around 1,800 gems, five urns and a stone coffer, was placed in the Indian Museum in Kolkata, formerly called the Imperial Museum of Calcutta. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Peppe was permitted to keep about one-fifth of the discovered items. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
13 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Piprahwa Relics Of Buddha Return To India After 127 Years
New Delhi: The sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha have been brought back to India after 127 long years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, noting that they were discovered in 1898 but taken away from the country during the colonial rule. It is a joyous day for our cultural heritage, Modi said in a post on X. "It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India's close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture," he said. When these holy relics appeared in an international auction earlier this year, Modi said, his government worked to ensure that they returned home. "I appreciate all those who have been involved in this effort," he added. These relics were unearthed in 1898 during the excavation of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Uttar Pradesh's Piprahwa, near the India-Nepal border, according to a website ( containing research, information and news on "The Piprahwa project". The relics include bone fragments believed to be of Gautam Buddha, along with soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and gold ornaments and gemstones. "The bone relics were given to the King of Siam (Thailand) to distribute among the world's Buddhists," the website says. The large stone coffer that held the relics is on display at the Indian Museum in Kolkata, it adds.
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha return to India after 127 years
NEW DELHI: The sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha have returned to India after 127 years. The holy remains were discovered from Piprahwa village in Uttar Pradesh in 1898. The repatriation of the rare remnants was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. He said that it was a 'joyous day for our cultural heritage'. 'It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India's close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture. #VikasBhiVirasatBhi,' he posted on 'X'. The relics were allegedly placed in an auction scheduled in Hong Kong in May. However, the Ministry of Culture took strong diplomatic and legal measures to stop the sale. It also issued a legal notice to Sotheby's—a leading multinational auction house—demanding the immediate withdrawal of the auction. 'It may be recalled that the Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 but were taken away from India during the colonial period. When they appeared in an international auction earlier this year, we worked to ensure they returned home. I appreciate all those who have been involved in this effort,' Modi also said. The Piprahwa relics, discovered by British civil engineer William Claxton Peppé in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, are believed to be associated with the mortal remains of Lord Buddha. Enshrined by his followers around the 3rd century BCE, these relics have long held immense spiritual value for the global Buddhist community and represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries in India's history. The majority of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899. However, a portion of the relics retained by the Peppé family was taken out of the country and was listed for auction.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Museum makes entry free for school groups to ignite kids' love for history
Kolkata: The Indian Museum has made entry free for school groups to encourage more students to visit the oldest and largest museum in South Asia. Entry did use to be free for student groups, but in 2019, the museum introduced a fee of Rs 20 for visitors below 18 years. That decision was reversed at a meeting of the Board of Trustees last month following the museum's finance committee's proposal last Dec to waive fees for student groups. "Recognising students as the future custodians of our cultural legacy, Indian Museum is committed to nurturing curiosity and promoting learning from an early age. By removing entry barriers, the museum aims to encourage more educational visits and inspire a lifelong appreciation for history and culture," said Indian Museum director Arijit Dutta Choudhury. By transforming into a living classroom, the museum aspired to empower the younger generations across social backgrounds to ensure every child gets a chance to engage with and take pride in India's cultural legacy, said museum deputy director Sayan Bhattacharya, pointing out Indian Museum was not just a repository of antiquities but also a place of awe. "It's a living heritage site eliciting curiosity, imagination among kids. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo " You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Students visiting the museum are usually instantly captivated by the breadth and diversity of the collections: from one of the oldest fossil specimens—Stromatolite (a 3,200 million-year-old earliest specimen of life in South Asia) to Harappan artefacts, relics of Buddha, Ashokan Lion Capital and ancient sculptures—the museum presents a seamless timeline of India's civilisation journey. Among the most popular attractions is the 4,500-year-old Egyptian Mummy, one of the first of its kind ever to be exhibited in any museum. It continues to be a major draw for students, offering a tangible link to ancient global civilisations. Equally fascinating are the dinosaur eggs, the mammoth skeleton, rare botanical specimens and exquisite ivory artefacts.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Indian museum makes entry free for school groups to boost student visits
Students view the skeleton of a mammoth at the Indian Museum KOLKATA: The Indian Museum has made entry free for school groups to encourage more students to visit South Asia's oldest and largest museum. While entry used to be free for student groups, a Rs 20 entry fee was introduced for visitors below 18 years in 2019. That decision was reversed at a meeting of the Board of Trustees last month following the museum's finance committee's proposal last December to waive the entry fee for student groups. "Recognising that students are the future custodians of our cultural legacy, the Indian Museum is committed to nurturing curiosity and promoting learning from an early age. By removing entry barriers, the museum aims to encourage more educational visits and inspire a lifelong appreciation for history and culture," said Indian Museum Director Arijit Dutta Choudhury. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata By transforming into a living classroom, the museum aspires to empower the younger generations across social backgrounds to ensure that every student has the opportunity to engage with and take pride in India's rich cultural legacy, museum Deputy Director Sayan Bhattacharya explained, pointing out that the Indian Museum is not just a repository of antiquities but a place of wonder and awe. "It is a living heritage site that sparks curiosity and imagination among students," said Bhattacharya. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tại sao CFD tiền mã hóa có thể phù hợp với danh mục đầu tư của bạn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Students who visit the museum are captivated by the breadth and diversity of the collections: from one of the oldest fossil specimens – Stromatolite (a 3200 million-year-old earliest specimen of life in South Asia) to Harappan artefacts, relics of Buddha, Ashokan Lion Capital, and ancient sculptures – the museum presents a seamless timeline of India's civilisational journey. Among the most popular attractions is the 4500-year-old Egyptian Mummy, one of the first of its kind ever to be exhibited in any museum. It continues to be a major draw for students, offering a tangible link to ancient global civilisations. Equally fascinating are the dinosaur eggs from the zoological collections, the mammoth skeleton, rare botanical specimens, and exquisite ivory artefacts, all of which leave a lasting impression on young minds. Over the last three financial years, the Indian Museum has recorded an average annual footfall of approximately 6.5 lakh visitors. The percentage of school students within this overall visitor base increased from 18.11% in 2022–2023 to 19.9% in 2023–2024, and 21.53% in 2024–2025. Workshops, guided tours, interactive learning modules, and hands-on activities are regularly organised for students. The museum prioritises inclusivity through initiatives like 'Soulful Silence', a special programme designed for specially-abled and neurodiverse children, offering sensory-sensitive, calm, and accessible experiences. As part of the museum's inclusivity initiative, braille script labels and 3D replicas of paintings are being installed in the galleries to enhance accessibility for visually impaired visitors.
