CM seeks Centre’s intervention to stop auction of Naga human skull in UK

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 8: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to halt the auction of a Naga human skull by the Swan Fine Art at Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom on October 9.

In a letter to the External Affairs Minister, the Chief Minister said, “I write to you on an urgent matter that needs your immediate attention and intervention. I have been informed by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) that Naga human remains is going to be auctioned in the United Kingdom. The FNR is an organisation that consists of Church leaders and representatives of civil society. The Forum has been doing commendable service in our society in the field of peace, reconciliation and unity.”

According to the FNR, a Naga ancestral human remains listed as a “19th century horned Naga human skull” is part of a 1-day auction by the Swan Fine Art at Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom. The Naga human remains value is valued at 3,500-4,000 UK pounds and the provenance is traced to the Ex Francois 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.

In his letter, Rio said 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.

“You will agree that the human remains of any deceased person belong 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 said.

The CM urged 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.”

In a statement, the FNR condemned “this inhumane and violent practice where Indigenous ancestral remains continue to be collector’s items in the 21st century”, and said the Naga human remains were taken without people’s consent by colonial administrators and soldiers who occupied the Naga homeland in the 19th century.

“We are offended and deeply hurt that the skull of a Naga ancestor is being auctioned by an art dealer in the United Kingdom. Such auctions continue the policy of dehumanization and colonial violence on the Naga people”, the Forum said, while urging the authorities to ensure that the Naga people’s voices are heard by immediately stopping the October 9 auction.

The FNR in consonance with Article 12 of the UNDRIP also sought to exercise the right to repatriate ancestral human remains. It urged the Governments of UK and India to implement Article 12 by enabling access and/or repatriation of human remains in their possession through fair, transparent and effective mechanisms developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples concerned.

(Page News Service)