Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio Urges External Affairs Minister To Halt Auction Of Naga Human Remains In UK

Rio urged the Indian government to act swiftly, asking Dr. Jaishankar to engage with the Indian High Commission in the UK to halt the auction.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has appealed to India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, to intervene in the scheduled auction of Naga human remains in the UK. The issue, raised by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), has sparked outrage within the Naga community, highlighting the cultural and ancestral significance of the remains.

The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, Shri @Neiphiu_Rio writes to the Hon'ble External Affairs Minister of India, @DrSJaishankar with regard to the proposed auction of Naga human remains in the UK. pic.twitter.com/El9BD2yKsC

— CMO Nagaland (@CmoNagaland) October 8, 2024

In a letter dated 8th October, Rio voiced deep concern over the planned auction of a “19th-century horned Naga human skull” by Swan Fine Art in Oxfordshire, valued at 3,500-4,000 UK pound. He condemned the auction as a violation of human dignity and a continuation of colonial injustices against the Naga people. Rio stressed that the auctioning of human remains is a dehumanizing act that wounds the sentiments of the Naga people.

Rio urged the Indian government to act swiftly, asking Dr. Jaishankar to engage with the Indian High Commission in the UK to halt the auction. He asserted that the remains of deceased individuals belong to their communities and must be treated with the highest respect.

The FNR, consisting of church and civil society leaders, has denounced the treatment of indigenous remains as collectible objects. They are advocating for the repatriation of Naga ancestral remains, particularly from institutions like the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University, as part of efforts to restore dignity to the Naga people.

As the auction date of 9th October approaches, the Naga community’s call for action intensifies, reflecting their demand for respect and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

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