Professor Naman Ahuja Lectures on Piprahwa Gems at V&A
On a public lunchtime lecture held in November 2025 at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) South Kensington, Professor Naman Ahuja, an art history expert from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, presented a talk titled 'Artefacts or Relics?'. The lecture focused on a collection of gems retrieved from the Piprahwa stupa in Northern India, alongside remains believed to belong to the Buddha. These gems were excavated in 1898 by engineer William Caxton Peppé during the British Raj and were subject to an attempted auction earlier in 2025, which was later canceled. Ahuja discussed their significance as sacred relics linked to the Buddha's physical remains and how perceptions and ethical discussions regarding such items have changed since their unearthing.
Key facts
- Professor Naman Ahuja delivered a lecture at V&A South Kensington in November 2025.
- Ahuja is a professor of art history at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
- The lecture was titled 'Artefacts or Relics?'.
- It examined gems from the Piprahwa stupa in Northern India.
- The gems were excavated in 1898 by William Caxton Peppé during the British Raj.
- An attempted auction of the gems in 2025 was stopped.
- The gems are associated with remains said to be those of the Buddha.
- Ahuja discussed changing attitudes and ethical debates regarding the relics.
Entities
Artists
- Naman Ahuja
Institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- V&A South Kensington
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
Locations
- South Kensington
- London
- United Kingdom
- New Delhi
- India
- Piprahwa
- Northern India