297 Indian antiquities to return to India from USA
The Hindu
India reclaims stolen antiquities with PM Modi's proactive approach, securing returns from the USA and other countries.
The illicit trafficking of cultural property is a longstanding issue that has affected many cultures and countries throughout history. India has been particularly affected by this issue and a large number of antiquities have been smuggled out of the country.
During this visit of PM Modi to U.S., 297 antiquities were handed over to India.
This takes the total number of antiquities recovered by India since 2014 to 640. The total number of antiquities returned from the USA alone will be 578.
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Apart from the current visit, the earlier visits of the PM to USA have also been particularly fruitful in return for antiquities to India.
During PM Modi’s visit to the U.S. in 2021, 157 antiquities were handed over by the U.S. government, including the exquisite bronze Nataraja statue from the 12th century CE. Also, a few days after the PM’s U.S. visit in 2023, 105 antiquities were returned to India.
India’s successful recoveries extend beyond the USA, with 16 artefacts being returned from the U.K., and 40 from Australia among others.