Controversy Surrounds Auction of Naga Ancestral Skull in UK

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio seeks intervention from the Indian government to stop the auction of a 19th century Naga human skull in the UK, citing the auction as disrespectful and a continuation of colonial violence. The auction is considered by the Naga people as deeply hurtful to their cultural sentiments.

Nagaland's Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has called upon India's central government to intervene in halting the auction of a 19th-century Naga human skull in the United Kingdom, slated for Wednesday.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Rio expressed that auctioning the skull is not only dehumanizing but also a form of colonial violence against the Naga community. The sale has sparked negative reactions across various sectors in Nagaland, as it involves a sensitive matter intrinsic to the people's traditions and beliefs.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the auction violates Article 15 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which affirms Indigenous Peoples' rights to their cultural heritage. Rio urged action through the Indian High Commission in the UK to stop the auction, a matter initially brought to his attention by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation.

(With inputs from agencies.)