Ancient Indian Artefacts Back Home: Explaining Government’s Commitment to Rejuvenate India’s Civilizational Heritage

The looting of Indian antiquities has a long history. The British colonial rulers of India took thousands of artefacts back to Britain, including the Koh-i-Noor diamond and the famous Rosetta Stone. The British Museum alone has over 25,000 Indian artefacts, many of which were taken during colonial rule. Similarly, the French, Dutch, and Portuguese also took countless treasures from India. In the words of the renowned Emmy winning comic John Oliver the entire British Natural history museum is an active crime scene and if the British were to return all the antiquities they had stolen there wouldn’t be much of the museum left. 

The illegal trade in stolen Indian antiquities is a multi-billion-dollar industry. For years, the theft and looting of Indian antiquities has been a major problem. Countless priceless artefacts have been taken from archaeological sites and smuggled out of the country, ending up in the hands of private collectors and museums around the world. However, in recent years, the Indian government under the leadership of Prime minister Narendra Modi has made significant efforts to repatriate these stolen artefacts and bring them back to their rightful home which was ignored for decades after independence.

While the Indian government has made efforts to curb the illegal trade, it remains a major challenge. As of late 2022 More than 300 looted artefacts have been returned to India, the majority of which were seized as part of the investigation into Subhash Kapoor – accused by U.S. authorities of being “one of the most prolific commodities smugglers in the world”—and his associates. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced 307 antiquities valued at nearly $4 million were handed off to a representative of the Indian government. Of those, 235 of the antiquities were directly linked to Kapoor, whose smuggling operation extended across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The scale of the problem is staggering. According to the Indian government, over 40,000 antiquities have been stolen from the country since 1960. Similarly, In November 2021 After a long wait of 100 years, an 18th century idol of Maa Annapurna stolen from Varansi and illegally taken to Canada was brought back to Varanasi.

The theft of Indian antiquities is not just a financial crime; it is also a cultural one. The artefacts that have been stolen represent a significant part of India’s cultural heritage, and their loss is felt deeply by the country’s people. These artefacts are not just valuable objects; they are also symbols of India’s rich history and the achievements of its people and its contributions to the world for over a millennia.

The Modi government’s efforts to recover stolen Indian antiquities are multifaceted, involving legal action, diplomatic efforts, and collaboration with international organisations. One of the key tools at their disposal is the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, which provides a legal framework for the protection and recovery of Indian antiquities. Under this law, the government can take legal action against those who possess stolen artefacts and seek their return to India. The government has also launched several high-profile initiatives to repatriate stolen Indian antiquities. In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally handed over a stolen 12th-century statue of Lord Buddha to the President of Mongolia during a visit to the country. The statue had been smuggled out of India and was discovered in the possession of a private collector in the United States.

In another notable case, the Indian government successfully repatriated a set of ancient bronze idols stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu. The idols had been smuggled out of India and ended up in the possession of the National Gallery of Australia. After a lengthy legal battle, the Australian government agreed to return the idols to India, where they were given a grand welcome and returned to their rightful home.

The Union government announced on Monday (May 8, 2023) that 238 antiquities of Indian origin had been returned to the country since 2014, with another 72 in the process of being repatriated from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia, according to a factsheet released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The Modi government has also taken steps to strengthen its cooperation with international organisations and other countries to tackle the illegal trade in stolen Indian antiquities. In 2019, India hosted the first-ever G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting, which focused on issues such as the protection of cultural heritage and the repatriation of stolen artefacts. At the meeting, India emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling the illegal trade in cultural artefacts and called for greater efforts to prevent the theft and looting of cultural heritage sites. 

In addition to these efforts, the Modi government has also launched several initiatives to promote awareness of the issue and to encourage the return of stolen Indian antiquities. The Indian Ministry of Culture has created a database of stolen artefacts, which allows anyone to search for missing objects and report any sightings. The government has also launched a social media campaign, using the hashtag #BringOurArtBack, to raise awareness of the issue and to encourage the return of stolen artefacts.

Not just the Modi Governments but private citizens like Vijay Kumar and Anuraag Saxena, both chartered accountants living in Singapore have formed a group called The India Pride Project in 2014. This group of amateur sleuths uses social media to help look for stolen pieces and it’s part of a growing movement worldwide prompting museums, art collectors and world leaders to repatriate looted items to the countries that own them. Many do believe that they have the support of the Modi government in their efforts to return the India’s lost history back. 

In conclusion, the theft and looting of cultural artifacts is a global problem. It is a tragic tale of cultural loss and greed. As India celebrates its Amritkaal and under the Modi leadership its stature as the world’s power grows more and more artefacts and pieces of our history shall make its way back home so that our citizens can take pride in our contributions to the world throughout history and our culture which has stood the test of time.