After 127 years, the revered Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha, which had been lost during colonial control, have been returned to India in a historic moment for the nation’s cultural legacy. Along with the return of priceless artifacts, the repatriation signifies the resuscitation of a significant historical and spiritual legacy. When the antiquities turned up at an international auction earlier this year, the Ministry of Culture intervened to collect them through a public-private collaboration between the Government of India and the Godrej Industries Group.
Officials hailed their homecoming as a victory of cultural diplomacy and national pride, attributing it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. In a statement, the government praised the teamwork that enabled the historic homecoming and stated, “This is a reminder that our history is not only to be remembered but also reclaimed, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.”
