A valuable collection of precious gems related to the relics of the Buddha, known as the “Piprahwa Gems,” has finally returned to India after 127 years of circulation. Originally scheduled to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in May 2025, the collection was canceled due to strong protests from the Indian government, which threatened legal action. Ultimately, it was purchased back by an Indian consortium and will be permanently returned to the country for public display in the future.
On Wednesday, July 30th, the Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, presided over a ceremony in New Delhi to welcome back the Piprahwa Gems and other artifacts returning from overseas.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on the social media platform X, saying, “This is a joyous moment for our cultural heritage!” He expressed that this gesture will make every Indian proud. The Indian Ministry of Culture described the repatriation as a “model of public-private collaboration,” aligned with the Modi government’s commitment to reclaiming ancient cultural and religious heritage from around the world.
The gems were unearthed from the site of the Piprahwa Stupa in present-day Uttar Pradesh. In 1898, the British estate manager, William Claxton Peppe, discovered a stone casket while excavating a stupa, containing over 300 gems and what many in the Buddhist world believe to be relics left by Gautama Buddha. The accompanying gems buried with them were also considered “the treasures of Buddha.”
Historical records show that the British colonial authorities officially gifted the relics to Buddhist nations like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Myanmar for veneration, while allowing the Peppe family to retain over 300 duplicate gems. These gems, held in private hands, have been passed down through generations, leading to their inclusion in the intended Sotheby’s auction.
After news of the auction surfaced, the Indian government swiftly protested, asserting that these gems belonged to India’s sacred heritage and should not be sold off indiscriminately. Sotheby’s confirmed that the buyer was the Indian consortium – Godrej Group, and through private negotiations, the gems were formally brought back to India.
Sotheby’s stated in a release, “We are pleased to have facilitated the return of the Piprahwa Gems to India.” Reports indicate that the gems will be preserved by Indian official institutions and exhibited in museums.
These gems, dating back over two thousand years to the late Mauryan Empire period and consisting of amethyst, yellow sapphire, pearls, and more, were believed to be from around 240 to 200 BC, coinciding with the zenith of Buddhism in India’s history.
(This article references reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse)