In a development concerning for Indian cultural preservation, an auction house in Luxembourg is set to proceed with the auction of five significant items from Chandigarh despite objections raised by authorities. The items, including the costliest pair of easy armchairs from Chandigarh, valued at Rs. 14.40 lakh, are estimated to fetch a total of 42,000 euros (approximately Rs 37.80 lakh) in the auction scheduled for March 24.
The arbitrary auction of Indian heritage items stands is in contradiction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for preserving both development and heritage under the motto ‘Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi’.
The items slated to be auctioned– designed by renowned architect Pierre Jeanneret as part of the Capital Project of Punjab– are a part of the rich cultural legacy of Chandigarh.
It also brings to light the fact that despite efforts to regulate exports in antiquities and art treasures, the movement of such heritage items continues unabated.
Incidentally, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has refrained from categorising Chandigarh goods as antiquities, contributing to the lack of legal barriers against their exports. Experts argue that these articles qualify as ‘art treasure’ under Section 2(b) of relevant legislation. They asked authorities to re-evaluate their classification to prevent their unauthorized export.
In a letter addressed to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, Meenakshi Lekhi, V Muraleedharan, the two ministers of states in the same ministry, advocate Ajay Jagga underscored the urgent need for action to safeguard India’s cultural heritage. He said the failure to address this issue not only results in the loss of invaluable heritage but also leads to significant financial repercussions.
As concerns mount over the continued smuggling and auctioning of Chandigarh heritage, stakeholders call for immediate intervention to protect and preserve these cultural treasures for future generations.