Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio urged the central government to step in and prevent the scheduled sale of a “19th-century horned Naga ancestral skull” in the United Kingdom. In a communication to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, CM Rio conveyed that the sale of human remains from the Naga community “greatly offends the feelings” of the citizens in the state.
In his letter, he declared that it is an act of dehumanization and is viewed as ongoing colonial violence against the Naga people. Nagaland’s Chief Minister pointed out the negative response from all segments of the Naga community regarding the proposed auction.
The proposal to auction Naga ancestral skull in the UK has been met with disapproval by all groups as it is a deeply emotional and sacred matter for our community. Rio stated that it is a long-standing tradition in our culture to show the utmost respect and honor to the deceased.
He also mentioned that the body of a deceased individual is the property of “their community and their territory.” The Chief Minister of Nagaland asked Jaishankar to address this issue with the Indian High Commission in the UK to stop the auction of the Naga ancestral skull.
Rio mentioned that he learned about the planned auction through the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), a group that speaks for the Nagas. The FNR informed the Chief Minister that an auction firm in the United Kingdom is selling a “19th-century horned Naga ancestral skull.”
The approximate worth of the Naga ancestral skull falls within the range of $3,500 to $4,000. According to the FNR, the Naga ancestral skull is featured in an auction named “The Curious Collector Sale” with a collection that includes antiquarian books, manuscripts, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, and furniture.
The FNR claimed that selling the human remains goes against Article 15 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which affirms the right of Indigenous Peoples to the dignity and uniqueness of their cultures, traditions, histories, and aspirations, to be accurately represented in education and public information.