Recovery of Stolen Antiquities from India

By | April 26, 2016
(Last Updated On: April 26, 2016)

Recovery of Stolen Antiquities from India

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is making all efforts to recover stolen antiquities from abroad. Till date the Archaeological Survey of India has recovered eighteen numbers of antiquities from various countries. Details are given in Table-1 below:-  

LIST OF RETRIEVAL OF ANTIQUITIES FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES

 

Sl.

No

Description of objectProvenanceCountry from which retrievedDate/

year of Retrieval

Means of RetrievalPresent location 
1.Sawn stucco HeadNalanda, BiharU.K. and France1976Voluntarily returned by British Museum, London and Madam Krishna Robound of FrancePatna Circle 
2.Nataraja of Chola periodSivapuram Tamil NaduU.S.A.1986Through Court Case in U.K and U.S.A.Tamil Nadu Government 
3.Terracotta Yakashi of TamlukWest BengalU.K.1986Court case was instituted in London but out of Court settlement was reached for retrievalCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi 
4.Nataraja of Chola periodTiruvilakkadi, Tamil NaduU.S.A1986Kimbell Art Museum returned the idol after Indemnity agreement was signed by the GOI on 12.8.1985  
5.Nataraja of Chola periodPathur, Tamil NaduU.K.1991Retrieved through Court case instituted in London High Court and appeal in Royal Court of Justice at London.Tamil Nadu Government 
6.Terracotta figures from BhitargaonUtter PradeshU.S.A1991The figure was returned voluntarily  by Los Angeles Country Museum.CAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi 
7.Amin pillarsAmin, HaryanaU.K1979-80Voluntarily returnedNational Museum, New Delhi 
8.Image of BuddhaBodhgaya, BiharU.S.A1999Voluntarily returned without seeking any monitory compensation by Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi 
9.Sculpture of KrishnajanmaDhubela Museum Chattarpur (M.P.)U.S.A1999Returned through the mediation of Consulate General of India, New York.Dhubela Museum, Chattarpur (M.P) 
10.Paintingsi)  Chandigarh      Museum

ii) Chandigarh Museum

U.S.A

 

U.S.A

10-1-1990

 

4-3-1979

Voluntarily returned

 

Voluntarily returned

Chandigarh Museum

 

Chandigarh Museum

 

 
11.Image of LakulisaJageswarU.S.A2000Voluntarily returned after negotiations by the Consulate General of India, Chichgo with Mrs. Marilynn Alsdorf.CAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi 
12.Decorative Wooden panels (7 nos.)RajasthanHoland2001Voluntarily returned

 

CAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi 
13.Yogini Vrishanana—-Paris2013Return on initiative of  the then Minister of CultureNational Museum 
14.NatarajaTamil NaduAustralia2014Voluntarily returnedUnder the custody of Idol Wing Tamil Nadu 
15.ArdhanariswaraTamil NaduAustralia2014Voluntarily returnedUnder the custody Idol Wing, Tamil Nadu
16.Parrot LadyMadhya PradeshCanada2015Voluntarily returnedCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi
17.MahisamardiniJ&KGermany2015Voluntarily returnedCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi
18.Uma ParameshwariTamil NaduSingapore2015Voluntarily returnedCAC, Purana Qila, New Delhi

 

 

Presently there is no estimate available with the Archaeological Survey of India, for the number of the antiquities that are currently illegally being smuggled outside the country, however, Central Bureau of Investigation has registered one case in connection with Indian antiquities stolen and sold in foreign countries since 2000 to 2016.

 

Six numbers of antiquities have been recovered from abroad during the last three years. Details are given table-2:-

 

LIST OF RETRIEVAL OF ANTIQUITIES FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES DURING LAST THREE YEARS 2013-2015 AND CURRENT YEAR UPTO 31st MARCH, 2016

 

Sl.No.Description of objectProvenanceCountry from which retrievedDate/

year of Retrieval

Means of RetrievalPresent location
1.Yogini Vrishanana—-Paris2013Return on initiative of  the then Minister of CultureNational Museum
2.NatarajaTamil NaduAustralia2014Voluntarily returnedUnder the custody of Idol Wing, Tamil Nadu
3.ArdhanariswaraTamil NaduAustralia2014Voluntarily returnedUnder the custody of Idol Wing, Tamil Nadu
4.Parrot LadyMadhya PradeshCanada2015Voluntarily returnedCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi

 

5.MahisamardiniJ&KGermany2015Voluntarily returnedCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi

 

6.Uma ParameshwariTamil NaduSingapore2015Voluntarily returnedCAC, Purana Qila, N. Delhi

Presently there is no estimate available with the Archaeological Survey of India, for the number of the antiquities that are currently illegally being smuggled outside the country, however, Central Bureau of Investigation has registered one case in connection with Indian antiquities stolen and sold in foreign countries since 2000 to 2016.

This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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