The University of Oxford has returned the ancestral remains of 39 members of the Naga community to representatives from Nagaland, more than a century after they became part of the collection at its Pitt Rivers Museum.
The formal handover took place at a ceremony at the museum on Monday, where the remains were transferred to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and the Naga Tribe Hoho. The transfer of title document was signed by Pitt Rivers Museum Director Professor Laura Van Broekhoven and FNR representative Reverend Dr Wati Aier.
Following the ceremony, the remains were moved from Oxford to begin their journey back to Nagaland, according to a statement issued by the FNR.
The Pitt Rivers Museum, established in 1884, houses cultural artefacts collected from different parts of the world. The return marks a significant step in addressing the legacy of colonial-era collections and responding to demands from communities seeking the restoration of their ancestral remains.
A step towards reconciliation
Addressing the ceremony, University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey described the handover as a historic moment in the relationship between the university and the Naga people. She said the initiative represented a community-led effort towards reconciliation, healing and peace.
Visier Sanyu, representing the FNR, spoke about the impact of British colonial violence on Naga communities, recalling how his own village had been burnt by colonial forces. Emphasising the importance of reconciliation, he quoted late Naga peace activist Niketu Iralu: “Hate not transformed is transferred.”
Thejao Vihienuo, representing the Naga Tribe Hoho, described the return as the Naga people’s right to care for their ancestors. He also called for all Naga ancestral remains held in museums to be returned to their homeland with dignity.
Preparations are now underway to bury the remains at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima. The park’s management committee has allocated a designated site, and a prayer service has already marked the beginning of preparatory work.
The proposed burial is intended to provide a common resting place for the ancestors and strengthen healing, reconciliation and unity among the Naga people.
Source: The Telegraph, with inputs from PTI
