US Returns 297 Antiquities Smuggled Out Of India Amid PM Narendra Modi’s Visit

Bhubaneswar: The US has facilitated the return of 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India amid the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The PM on Sunday expressed deep appreciation for US President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. “Deepening cultural connect and strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties. I am extremely grateful to President Biden and the US Government for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. @POTUS @JoeBiden,” he posted on X.

According to official sources, the antiquities belong to a time period spanning almost 4000 years, from 2000 BCE – 1900 CE and have origins in different parts of India. Majority of them are terracotta artefacts from eastern India, while others are made in stone, metal, wood and ivory and belong to different parts of the country. Some of the notable antiquities handed over are:

* Apsara in sandstone from Central India belonging to 10-11th century CE;
* Jain Tirthankar in bronze from Central India belonging to 15-16th century CE;
* Terracotta vase from Eastern India belonging to 3-4th century CE;
* Stone Sculpture from South India belonging to 1st century BCE-1st century CE;
* Lord Ganesh in Bronze from South India belonging to 17-18th century CE;
* Standing Lord Buddha in sandstone from North India belonging 15-16th century CE;
* Lord Vishnu in Bronze from Eastern India belonging to 17-18th century CE;
* Anthropomorphic figure in copper from North India belonging to 2000-1800 BCE;
* Lord Krishna in bronze from South India belonging to 17-18th century CE,
* Lord Karthikeya in granite from South India belonging to 13-14th century CE.

In July, India and the US signed a bilateral cultural property agreement to facilitate the return of stolen and smuggled antiquities, many of which find their way to the US. “Preserving heritage and culture: restituting antiquities. The US side has facilitated the return of 297 stolen or trafficked antiquities during the visit of PM @narendramodi to US,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The repatriation has taken the total number of antiquities recovered since 2014 to 640, with 578 of these coming from the USA. In 2021, 157 antiquities were handed over, including a bronze Nataraja statue from the 12th century. Just days after Modi’s trip in early 2023, another 105 antiquities were returned. India has also successfully recovered artefacts from other countries, including 16 from the UK and 40 from Australia, the ET reported.

Meanwhile, the PM has left for New York to address a key conclave at the United Nations after wrapping up the Quad Leaders’ meeting in Wilmington. He will also meet the diaspora at a community programme in the city.