Smugglers Profit from Auctions of Valuable Heritage Items

Chandigarh's Heritage Furniture Auction Latest News: The Rich heritage of Chandigarh, including iconic furniture designed by luminaries like Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, is currently being auctioned abroad, a matter that has not gone unnoticed by local authorities and the police. Despite the awareness of this issue, concrete steps to halt these auctions have proven elusive.

Notably, the ongoing auctions include heritage furniture that bears the mark of architectural giants like Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. Beyond furniture, even manhole covers are being put up for sale in these auctions. Despite the best efforts of the Union Territory (UT) administration, the auctions continue unabated, with four taking place in different countries in the last year alone.

The heritage furniture, sometimes smuggled abroad, fetches staggering sums, ranging from Rs 10 to 15 crore annually. This year alone, heritage furniture has been auctioned 13 times, amounting to sales worth Rs 10 lakh. Last year saw 16 auctions, where heritage furniture with a total value of over Rs 14 crore changed hands.

Advocate Ajay Jagga, a member of the Heritage Conservation Cell, lamented that heritage items worth over Rs 200 crore have been auctioned in the past two decades. Just recently, heritage chairs from the city were auctioned in France. What's concerning is that the administration and the central government are well-informed about these auctions. Written notifications are submitted to both the central government and the UT administration before every auction, yet the auctions persist.

Niti Aayog, in a recent report, emphasized the need for robust measures to protect and preserve art and cultural heritage, as the nation has a vested interest in safeguarding these treasures.

This issue continues to plague Chandigarh. On a recent Saturday, two chairs were auctioned in France, fetching 5600 euros (approximately five lakh rupees). Complaints regarding these auctions have been filed with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Union Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi. In the past, Chandigarh's heritage furniture, worth millions, has been auctioned in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

This problem is set to persist, as more auctions are scheduled. After Diwali this month, the city's heritage furniture will be auctioned in America on October 16, followed by another auction in New York on October 17, featuring furniture with a collective worth of millions. The most expensive auction of heritage items took place last year in France, where 29 furniture items were sold for a staggering Rs 4 crore 2 lakh.

Despite these disheartening losses, both the administration and the police have yet to take decisive action. The Department of Architecture has issued a letter to the Director of Cultural Affairs, emphasizing the urgency of this issue and the need to protect Chandigarh's invaluable heritage.