On October 7, 2024, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) was informed that a Naga ancestral human remains listed as a “19th century horned Naga human skull” is part of a one-day sale by the Swan Fine Art at Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom.
“The Naga human remain’s value is estimated at 3,500-4,000 UK pounds and the provenance is traced to the Ex Francios Coppens Collection from Belgium. The Naga ancestral human skull is part of an auction titled “The curious collector sale” and is catalogued alongside antiquarian books, manuscripts, paintings, jewelry, ceramics and furniture,” stated the FNR in a letter to the Chief Minister of Nagaland. The FNR has sought the CM’s intervention by calling the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to swiftly act in stopping the October 9, 2024 auction from taking place.
Condemning the inhumane and violent practice, where Indigenous ancestral human remains continue to be collector’s items in the 21” century, the FNR asserted that such auctions continue the policy of dehumanization and colonial violence on the Naga people.
“The auctioning of Naga ancestral human remains come at a time when members of the FNR and the Recover, Restore and Decolonize Team (RRaD) have been facilitating a dialogue process on the repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains from the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University. The urgency to make repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains a priority is felt more than ever before,” implored the FNR.
Promptly taking up the matter, the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio has written to S. Jaishankar, Union Minister for External Affairs, today, seeking immediate attention and intervention. Rio has requested the Union Minister to take up the matter with the Indian High Commission in the UK to undertake necessary steps.
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Highlighting the contributions of FNR in Naga society in the field of peace, reconciliation and unity, Rio mentioned that the news of the proposed auction of Naga human remains in the UK has been received by all sections in a negative manner. “As it is “a highly emotional and sacred issue for our people, as it has been a traditional custom of our people to give the highest respect and honour for the remains of the demised,” stated Rio.
“You will agree that the human remains of any deceased person belongs to those people and their land. Moreover, the auctioning of human remains deeply hurts the sentiments of the people, is an act of dehumanisation and is considered as continued colonial violence upon our people,” he further added.
In this regard, the CM has urged you Jaishankar to take up the matter with the Indian High Commission in the UK to undertake necessary steps to ensure that the auction of the human remains of our people is halted.
“You will appreciate that this has become a serious issue amongst the citizens of Nagaland and we urge the Government of India to do everything possible to ensure that the rights and emotions of our people are protected,” stated Rio.
