Ukhrul: The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has called for the immediate halt to the auction of a Naga ancestral human skull, which is set to be sold by Swan Fine Art in Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. The auction, titled “The Curious Collector Sale,” is scheduled for October 9, 2024, and has drawn widespread condemnation from the Naga community for perpetuating colonial violence and dehumanization.
The human skull, identified as a “19th century horned Naga human skull,” is valued at £3,500-4,000 and has been traced back to the Ex-Francios Coppens Collection from Belgium. It is being auctioned alongside various antiquarian books, manuscripts, paintings, jewelry, and other collectibles. FNR, in its statement, condemned this act as an inhumane and violent practice that reduces the dignity of Indigenous ancestors to mere collector’s items.
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FNR pointed out that these human remains were forcibly taken during British colonial rule in the 19th century, when Naga villages resisted British expeditions. The sale of the skull, FNR said, symbolizes the violence unleashed on the Naga people by colonial powers, who defined them with derogatory terms such as “savages” and “headhunters.” These harmful stereotypes, the forum noted, continue to be perpetuated today.
“We are deeply hurt that the skull of a Naga ancestor is being auctioned,” the statement said, adding that the sale not only continues the dehumanization of Naga people but also contravenes Article 15 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Article 15 affirms that Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, and histories, which should be respected in public education and information.
The FNR urged authorities to immediately halt the auction, citing precedents in which similar sales were stopped. FNR referenced the sale of Egyptian human skulls and skeletal remains in Angus, Scotland, which were withdrawn after public outcry.
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The forum also called on the governments of the United Kingdom and India, both signatories to UNDRIP, to act in accordance with the declaration by taking effective measures to eliminate prejudice and promote understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. FNR stressed that this is a defining moment for both governments to join hands with the Naga people to repatriate the ancestral remains and restore dignity to the Naga community.
Additionally, FNR expressed solidarity with other Indigenous groups, including those from Nigeria, Benin, Congo, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, whose ancestral remains are also being auctioned in the same sale. The forum emphasized its commitment to exercising the right to repatriate Naga ancestral human remains under Article 12 of UNDRIP and called on international governments to facilitate the return of such remains through fair and transparent processes.
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Meanwhile, the Naga Scholars Association has issued a strong condemnation following the auctioning of ancestral Naga human remains by Swan Fine Art in United Kingdom. In a statement released today, the Naga Scholars expressed deep indignation over the commodification of the sacred cultural heritage of the Naga people. “This egregious act reflects an alarming continuity of colonial hubris that has long disrespected Indigenous communities,” the statement read. The association criticized the sale as an insult to the Naga people and a reminder of the persistent colonial mindset that continues to treat non-European cultures with disregard.
The Naga Scholars Association further denounced Swan Fine Art for perpetuating colonial practices by engaging in the sale of human remains, calling it a violation of moral and ethical responsibilities. “The commodification of our ancestors’ remains strips away their inherent dignity and cultural significance, reducing sacred lives to mere objects of trade,” the association said, adding that such actions perpetuate the arrogance of the colonial legacy.
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The auction, the statement emphasized, not only disrespects Naga culture but also highlights the ongoing marginalization of colonized peoples. The ancestral remains, which hold deep spiritual and historical importance, deserve to be treated with reverence, not sold in an auction house.
The Naga Scholars Association has called for the immediate cessation of the sale and demanded the repatriation of the remains to the Naga community, where they can be honored in accordance with Naga traditions and customs. The association also urged institutions like Swan Fine Art to distance themselves from the commodification of Indigenous cultures and to recognize the harm caused by such colonial practices.
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