Source: New York Times
“The jewels are delicate, some just millimeters in length, arranged in intricate patterns of circles and lines. Taken from British-occupied India in 1898, the jewels were discovered alongside bone and ash, said to be the remains of Buddha. The collection is perhaps one of the holiest relics in contemporary religion. Now, it is up for sale, igniting a legal battle between the government of India and Sotheby’s, the international auction house set to sell the religious treasures in an auction. The artifacts are being sold on behalf of the English descendants of the explorer who dug them up more than 120 years ago. On Monday, the Indian Ministry of Culture issued a legal order, saying the relics should be returned to India for ‘preservation and religious veneration.'” (05/06/25)