Following the successful State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States last month, an extraordinary event took place at the Indian consulate in New York on July 17-18.
A repatriation ceremony for 105 trafficked antiquities was conducted, wherein the US side handed over these precious artefacts to India. During the PM’s State Visit, India and the US had decided to jointly work towards a Cultural Property Agreement, aiming to combat illegal trafficking of cultural treasures.
This collaboration marked yet another milestone in the dynamic partnership between the Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies of the two nations.
Profound significance
For India, these antiquities hold a profound significance as they represent an integral part of their living heritage and culture. The artifacts, crafted from terracotta, stone, metal, and wood, originate from various regions of India, with a remarkable time span ranging from the 2nd to the 19th Century CE.
Among them, approximately 50 artefacts are associated with religious themes – Hinduism, Jainism, and Islam – while the others possess immense cultural value.
Jordan Stockdale, Chief of Staff from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, stated that their agency, alongside Homeland Security, had been investigating smuggling of artefacts from India for over a decade. Last year alone, the US repatriated over 300 antiquities to India, yet more than 1,400 recovered objects still awaited repatriation.
Stolen heritage
India has lost several significant national artefacts, first under British colonial rule and then through illegal smuggling activities. As the conversation around looted artefacts gains prominence across the world, its attempts to repatriate stolen heritage items are bearing fruit. Since coming to power in 2014, PM Modi has brought back Indian cultural items from trips to many countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore, as well as the US.
In a 2022 ‘Mann ki Baat’ episode, the Prime Minister touched upon the issue, citing his “responsibility towards mother India” as they are “part of the nation’s soul and faith.” While reclaiming the world-famous Kohinoor diamond, now a part of the British Crown Jewels, is still a dream for many in India, the cultural importance of newly reclaimed artefacts cannot be dismissed.
A rampant problem
Unesco, the UN agency for culture, says heritage theft remains a rampant problem across India, which is compounded by poverty and poor protection of historical monuments.
Laying emphasis on international cooperation to retrieve illegally stolen antiquities, the UN agency has highlighted the importance of developing capacities for conservation within the country.
The Modi Government has made it a diplomatic priority to bring these antiquities back home as it pursues its nationalist agenda: “History belongs to its geography.”
The Government’s diplomatic breakthrough received a force multiplier in a civil society initiative. India Pride Project, a citizens’ movement for the repatriation of stolen and smuggled antiquities from public museums and private collectors across the world, has stepped up its activities. Its efforts have helped return of several stolen artefacts to India from foreign countries.
