A Repatriation ceremony was hosted on November 11,2024, in New York City by the Consulate General of India in New York celebrating the homecoming of 297 Indian-origin antiquities, embodying India’s rich culture and heritage. Their return follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States in September this year.
The antiquities were handed over by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the US Homeland Security Investigation (HSI). Some of these artefacts date as far back as 1st century AD, including a 1st-2nd century Tile Rooster Medallion from Harwan, Jammu & Kashmir, and a 5th-6th century Buddha statue in the Abhaya Mudra pose from North India. A 11th century Goddess Tara statue from Eastern India and a 10th-11th century Apsara in Tribhanga posture were also returned.
The homecoming of the antiquities follows closely on the heels of PM Modi’s September 21, 2024, visit to Wilmington, Delaware for the Quad Summit. A statement released by India’s Foreign Ministry on Sept 21, 2024, noted that “the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India under Ministry of Culture, Government of India had signed a Cultural Property Agreement in July 2024.”
The move underscores the close bilateral ties between the countries and fostered greater cultural understanding. The statement also noted that the agreement reflected the commitments made by President Biden and PM Modi to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage, as outlined in a Joint Statement in June 2023.
During the PM’s visit, the return of 297 antiquities that had either been stolen or trafficked from India was facilitated by the US. On the sidelines of the bilateral meeting of the two leaders at Wilmington, Delaware, a select few pieces were showcased as a symbolic handover. The PM “thanked President Biden for his support in the return of these artefacts,” remarking that these are not only integral to India’s material culture but also form the core of its civilizational identity and consciousness.
The antiquities, spanning nearly 4,000 years from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE, originate from various regions across India. While most of them are terracotta artefacts from Eastern India, others are made in stone, metal, wood and ivory and belong to different parts of the country.
A sandstone Apsara dating to the 10th-11th century CE and a bronze Jain Tirthankar from the 15th-16th century CE are some of the notable antiquities handed over. Other artefacts include, a terracotta vase from the 3rd-4th century CE from Eastern India, a bronze statue of Lord Vishnu from the 17th-18th century CE. A 1st century BCE-1st century CE stone sculpture, a granite Lord Karthikeya from the 13th-14th century CE, and bronze depictions of Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna from the 17th-18th century CE from South India have also made it to the list. Another sandstone statue of a standing Lord Buddha from the 15th-16th century CE and an anthropomorphic copper figure dating back to 2000-1800 BCE from North India will also be returned.
According to the statement, “the restitution of cultural property,” has become a priority area “of India-US cultural understanding and exchange.” Since 2016, “the US Government has facilitated the return of a large number of trafficked or stolen antiquities.”
“As many as, 10 antiquities were returned during PM’s visit to USA in June 2016; 157 antiquities during his visit in September 2021 and a further 105 antiquities during his visit in June last year. The total number of cultural artefacts returned from US to India since 2016 stands at 578. This is the maximum number of cultural artefacts returned by any country to India,” the statement further added.
