A United Kingdom (UK)-based auction house has withdrawn a ‘Naga Human Skull‘ from its listings for a live online sale on Wednesday following an outcry in India over the issue.

The decision came after the Forum of Naga Reconciliation (FNR), a Naga Church and civil society organisation wrote to Swan auction house at Tetsworth in Oxfordshire demanding a halt to the auction and the return of the skull.

The Swan auction house had a series of skulls and other remains originating from around the world as part of ‘The Curious Collector Sale, Antiquarian Books, Manuscripts & Paintings. The ‘19th Century Horned Naga Human Skull, Naga Tribe’ was slotted as Lot No. 64 and resulted in protests in Nagaland, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to stop the hurtful sale.

Tom Keane, the owner of the auction house, said the Naga skull was withdrawn in order to respect the feelings of all those involved.

“We listened to the views expressed and even though it was legal to proceed with the sale, we decided to withdraw the lot as we did not want to cause anyone any upset,” said Keane, proprietor of The Swan in Tetsworth.

“The news of the proposed auction of Naga human remains in the UK has been received by all sections in a negative manner as it is a highly emotional and sacred issue for our people. It has been a traditional custom of our people to give the highest respect and honour for the remains of the demised,”said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his letter.

Rio also urged the External Affairs Minister to take up the matter with the High Commission of Inida in London so that steps are taken to ensure that the auctionof the skull can be stopped after the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) raised concerns over the matter.

“This piece would be of particular interest to collectors with a focus on anthropology and tribal cultures,” reads the description of the auction lot, listed for an opening bid of GBP 2,100 (Rs 2.30 lakh approximately) with the auctioneer’s estimate expecting it to fetch as much as GBP 4,000 (Rs 4.39 lakh approximately). Its provenance is traced back to the collection of 19th century Belgian architect Francois Coppens.

The FNR asserted that the auction of the human remains contravenes Article 15 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which says: “Indigenous Peoples have a right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information.”

The FNR then contacted the auction house directly to condemn the sale and to call for the object to be repatriated to Nagaland. The auctioneers have said they would pass on any formal repatriation request to the owners of the item, which is part of a private collection.

The organisation is said to be one of many groups from across the world that is currently in dialogue with the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford about artefacts held in the museum’s collection.

(With inputs from PTI)