Why UK auction of 'Naga human skull' has left Indians fuming

A 19th-century human skull originating from the state of Nagaland has been withdrawn from an auction sale in the United Kingdom following a significant outcry from India.

The “horned Naga skull” had been listed as one of the items up for sale by prominent auction house The Swan at Tetsworth in Oxfordshire on October 9.  

However, the backlash led Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), a group of church leaders and civil society members in the northeast state led the auction house to remove the skull from its catalogue just before bidding was set to begin.

Here’s what we know happened.

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‘The Curious Collector Sale’**

The Oxfordshire auction house had included over 20 items featuring human remains in “The Curious Collector Sale,” scheduled for Wednesday.

Among these were a collection of skulls and remains from various parts of the globe, alongside antiquarian books, manuscripts, paintings, and ceramics.

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The Naga skull, traced back to 19th-century Belgian architect Francois Coppens, was listed as Lot No. 64.

“This piece would be of particular interest to collectors with a focus on anthropology and tribal cultures,” reads the description of the auction lot. It was listed for an opening bid of GBP 2,100 (Rs 2.30 lakh approximately) with the auctioneer’s estimate expecting it to fetch as much as GBP 4,000 (Rs 4.39 lakh).  

As per AFP, other remains in the auction included those from Papua New Guinea, Borneo, and the Solomon Islands, as well as African origins from countries like Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria.

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The items had been sourced from private European collections spanning Belgium, Britain, Germany, and France.

The Naga anthropologist Dolly Kikon condemned the auction, stating, the sale of any such item was unacceptable.

“Auctioning Indigenous human remains in the 21st century shows how descendants of colonisers enjoy impunity to perpetuate racism and colonial violence on communities,” she told AFP.

She further questioned, “If we have laws to stop the traffic of animals and birds, why don’t governments stop the auction of Indigenous human remains that were stolen from the people?"

‘Highly emotional and sacred issue’

The auction house faced significant backlash from the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), which denounced the sale as a “dehumanising” practice that commodifies Indigenous ancestral remains for “curious collectors.”

Wati Aier, a Baptist priest and leader of the FNR appealed to London for the return of all skulls to their ancestral lands.

He stated, “Throughout the period of British rule, the Naga people were defined as ‘savages’ and ‘headhunters,’ which are insulting tropes that continue to be perpetuated today.” He added that these remains symbolise the violence inflicted upon the Nagas by British colonial powers.

Further, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also condemned the auction, describing it as an act of “continued colonial violence” against Indigenous people. He urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to address the issue with the British High Commission in New Delhi.

In his letter, the CM noted, “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. It has been a traditional custom of our people to give the highest respect and honour for the remains of the demised.”

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

The FNR insisted that the repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains should be made “a priority”.

Notably, the Naga community has been involved in years-long efforts to reclaim ancestral remains housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England. These remains are part of a collection of approximately 6,500 Naga objects collected during the expansion of the British Empire and colonial rule, which have been in the museum for over a century, per Indian Express.

Laura Van Broekhoven, director of the museum, expressed her outrage over the auction of such items. She said, “The fact these objects were taken is really painful, and the fact that they were being put on sale is really disrespectful and inconsiderate.”

Kikon, a member of Recover Restore and Decolonise (RRaD), which works to repatriate the Naga community’s ancestral remains from museums abroad emphasised the importance of a community-first approach in repatriation efforts. She said, “In all repatriation cases around the world, it’s the communities who feel the need to heal and put remains to rest, and it’s the communities who come together.”

With input from agencies