US returns 297 antiquities to India

New Delhi, Sep 22: On the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States, in a gesture of cultural diplomacy, the United States has returned 297 antiquities to India. MEA officials said.

This move follows the Cultural Property Agreement signed in July 2024 between the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The agreement aims to foster deeper cultural understanding and combat the illicit trafficking of cultural properties.

The return of these invaluable artefacts coincided with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States. In a symbolic ceremony on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware, a select few pieces were showcased to the leaders.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to President Biden, emphasizing the cultural and civilizational significance of these antiquities. “These objects are not merely remnants of our historical material culture but are integral to the very soul of India’s civilization,” he stated.

The collection of 297 antiquities spans nearly 4000 years, from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE, representing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of various regions of India. Noteworthy items include:

Apsara in Sandstone from Central India, dating back to the 10th-11th century CE.

Jain Tirthankar in Bronze from Central India, from the 15th-16th century CE.

Terracotta Vase from Eastern India, dating back to the 3rd-4th century CE.

Stone Sculpture from South India, from the 1st century BCE-1st century CE.

Lord Ganesh in Bronze from South India, dating back to the 17th-18th century CE.

Standing Lord Buddha in Sandstone from North India, from the 15th-16th century CE.

Lord Vishnu in Bronze from Eastern India, from the 17th-18th century CE.

Anthropomorphic Figure in Copper from North India, dating back to 2000-1800 BCE.

Lord Krishna in Bronze from South India, from the 17th-18th century CE.

Lord Karthikeya in Granite from South India, dating back to the 13th-14th century CE.

In recent years, the restitution of cultural property has become a cornerstone of India-US cultural relations. Since 2016, the US Government has facilitated the return of a substantial number of stolen or trafficked antiquities.

The  returns include 10 artefacts during Prime Minister Modi’s visit in June 2016, 157 in September 2021, and 105 in June 2022. With the addition of these 297 artefacts, the total number of cultural items returned from the US to India since 2016 now stands at 578 — the highest number of returns from any country.

The significance of this occasion was highlighted by a tweet from Prime Minister Modi: “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”

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson MEA echoing the sentiment, stated: “Preserving heritage and culture: resituating antiquities. The US side has facilitated the return of 297 stolen or trafficked antiquities during the visit of PM @narendramodi to the US. PM @narendramodi and @POTUS @JoeBiden witnessed a few antiquities on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting as a symbolic handing over of the artefacts. India and USA recently signed the first-ever Cultural Property Agreement to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and retrieval of antiquities.”