Oxford University to Repatriate 39 Naga Ancestral Remains in Historic Move

In a significant development, the University of Oxford has announced its agreement to repatriate 39 human remains belonging to the Naga community, which were taken during the colonial period. These remains have been a part of the collections displayed at the Pitt Rivers Museum, renowned for housing the largest collection of Naga artifacts in the world.

The Pitt Rivers Museum, an integral part of Oxford University, contains approximately 8,000 Naga items, including a substantial number of human remains, primarily skulls. Additionally, the museum’s collection includes 178 objects that contain or are believed to contain human hair. In an effort to address growing concerns regarding the ethics of displaying human remains, the museum removed all such artifacts from public view back in 2020.

The repatriation of these remains aligns with a broader global movement advocating for the return of ancestral remains and cultural artifacts taken during colonial rule. This initiative resonates not only with the Naga people but also with various communities worldwide that seek restitution for the injustices of colonization and slavery. The movement is gaining traction, with increasing pressure on museums and institutions to return such items to their rightful owners.

On Saturday, representatives from the Naga Tribe Hobos and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation issued a statement announcing that a delegation from Nagaland will soon travel to the Pitt Rivers Museum. Their objective is to formally reclaim the ancestral remains, marking a significant milestone in the Naga community’s long-standing campaign for the restitution of their cultural heritage.

The handover of these remains is scheduled for November and is expected to be the largest repatriation of human remains from the museum to date. Laura Van Broekhoven, the director of the Pitt Rivers Museum, has confirmed this notable event, emphasizing the importance of returning these remains to the Naga people after years of advocacy.

This agreement also reflects a shift in the approach of many Western institutions towards acknowledging and addressing historical wrongs committed during colonial times. The Naga representatives have been diligently pursuing the return of their ancestral remains for years, and this upcoming repatriation could set a precedent for similar cases in the future.

Source: scroll.in