Oxford University museum to return remains of 39 people taken during British colonial rule in India

September 7, 2026 / 11:16 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

Oxford University museum to return remains of 39 people taken during British colonial rule in India

TL;DR

  • The Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University is returning the remains of 39 people from the Naga community in India.
  • The remains were taken during Britain's colonial rule.
  • The decision was approved after a restitution request by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and other Naga groups.
  • Naga organizations stated that repatriation is about memory returning to where it belongs.
  • The museum is working with the Naga community to schedule a handover ceremony.
  • This repatriation is part of a broader international movement to return artifacts and remains acquired during the colonial era.