Crystal & Ash

Are relics more than static remnants of the past?

This lecture on the relics of the Buddha excavated from the ancient stupa at Piprahwa, traces their long, contested journey to reveal the deep entanglement of material culture, belief, and power across history and into the present.

Excavated in 1898 and removed from India for over a century, the Piprahwa relics have been shrouded in controversy, from disputes over authenticity to competing claims of ownership and attempted auctions. Their recent return brings new urgency to old questions. Naman P. Ahuja will explain how relics are defined…