Chandigarh: Barely a month after the Chandigarh administration halted the auction of city‑based heritage items in Paris, another piece of Chandigarh’s architectural legacy is set to go under the hammer abroad.City‑based advocate Ajay Jagga has raised the alarm over the proposed auction of a Pierre Jeanneret‑designed stool, marked “PGI,” scheduled by Bonhams auction house in USA on July 22.Jagga has written to the Union minister of external affairs and the Union minister of culture, urging immediate suspension of the auction and an inquiry into how such heritage furniture left Chandigarh.The stool, bearing markings that suggest it originally belonged to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), is estimated to fetch between USD 1,500 and USD 2,500 (Rs 1.44 lakh to Rs 2.4 lakh).In his letter, Jagga pointed out that the markings “PGI” and “NH” strongly indicate the stool’s provenance from PGIMER’s Nehru Hospital.He stressed that these items are not mere furniture but integral components of Chandigarh’s cultural and architectural heritage, designed by Pierre Jeanneret, cousin and collaborator of Le Corbusier. Together, their works form the globally acclaimed legacy of Chandigarh’s modernist architecture.Jagga expressed concern that despite earlier interventions, Chandigarh’s heritage items continue to surface in foreign auctions. “The proposed auction once again raises serious concerns regarding the manner in which such heritage articles left Chandigarh and reached foreign auction houses,” he wrote.He appreciated the central govt and UT administration for their prompt action last month, when intervention by the ministry of external affairs and Chandigarh authorities led to suspension of certain auctions in Paris.“Timely action generated international awareness regarding the need to preserve Chandigarh’s heritage assets,” Jagga noted.The latest development has reignited debate over the protection of Chandigarh’s heritage furniture, much of which was designed for public institutions and carries markings linking it to govt ownership.The ease with which such items reach foreign markets has raised questions about monitoring mechanisms and enforcement of heritage protection norms.Box: Following action demandedImmediate diplomatic intervention with the auction house to suspend the saleIndian Embassy/Consulate to verify provenance, ownership history, and export documentation.Inquiry into whether the article was removed or exported in violation of laws or heritage normsSteps for revendication, recovery, and repatriation of the stool to ChandigarhChandigarh administration and Heritage Item Protection Cell to maintain continuous monitoring of overseas auctions
