The Indian consulate in NYC held a repatriation ceremony to return 105 trafficked antiquities to India. In recent years, India has increased its efforts to retrieve stolen artefacts from other countries. The country has successfully brought back objects from Australia, Canada, Singapore, the USA, and Germany. There are ongoing efforts to bring back stolen antiquities from the UK. However, the UK refutes India’s claims based on a law from the 1960s.
105 Antiquities
The USA has agreed to repatriate 105 antiquities to India. These span from the 2nd-3rd to the 18th-19th century. The artefacts originated from different parts of the country, with 27 from South India, 47 from East India, 22 from Central India, 3 from West India, and 6 from North India. The artefacts are made from various materials such as stone, terracotta, wood, and metal.
The artefacts have rich cultural significance with about 50 of the objects having religious connections to Islam, Hinduism, and Jainism. These antiquities will soon be transported from the USA to India, according to the issued release by the Consulate General of India in New York.
The objects were acquired illegally and will be returned to India by the joint efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and Homeland Security officials. An event was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) to commemorate the repatriation. India and the USA have agreed to work on the restitution of antiquities in recent years. A part of the efforts is also reflected in the Cultural Property Agreement that prevents the trafficking of cultural artefacts.
Reception at MET
On July 17 a repatriation ceremony was held at the Consulate General of India in NYC. The event was organised at the MET. It was an exhibition called ‘Tree & Serpent”, which showcased early Buddhist art from India dating from 200 BCE to 400 CE. The exhibition “presents a series of evocative and interlocking themes to reveal both the pre-Buddhist origins of figurative sculpture in India and the early narrative traditions that were central to this formative moment in early Indian art.”
The grand reception was also attended by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita M Ambani, Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal and members of the Indian diaspora and American community.
Sandhu said, ” The objects displayed around us are a demonstration of India’s cultural wealth, diversity and religious traditions. Our artists have created some of the finest pieces of art.” He emphasised, that efforts to repatriate the artefacts are a “salute” to the remarkable genius of those artists who created “such fine works even in the pre-machine age.”
Will the UK follow suit?
The list of Indian antiquities in repositories of museums in the UK is endless. The Indian government and many volunteer organisations have been demanding the return of stolen treasures during colonial rule.
The UK government has refuted their claims by citing an old law. The British Museum Act 1963 prevents museums across the UK from removing and disposing of objects from their collections. Even with tremendous international backlash on this law, the British government does not seem keen on amending it anytime soon.
However, new provisions in the Charity Act 2022 indicate that national museums in the UK may make ex gratia transfers or transfers undertaken by citing the reason of morality. The provisions allow the museums to independently dispose of objects that are deemed ‘low valued’. However, this value depends on the size of the museum. The act also cites the criteria to determine if the moral obligation to return an object exists.
The provisions in the act immensely slim down the chances of retrieving stolen treasures but it creates an opportunity for India to stake claims over the return of some of her stolen treasures.
The future of these artefacts
It is still unclear what these objects’ final destination will be once they arrive in India. This will be the second time India will receive artefacts from the USA. In 2021, the USA handed over 157 artefacts to India. Between 2014 and 2018 India also brought back objects from Canada, Australia, Germany and Singapore. All the artefacts are under the guardianship of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
According to DW, these artefacts are stored at ASI’s depot at Purana Qila in Delhi without any proper protection against atmospheric elements or security measures. In his documentary, Blood Buddhas, filmmaker, Nikhil Singh Rajput shows the improper handling of objects upon return to India.
Bringing back the artefacts that rightfully belong to India is a step in the right direction to rejuvenate India’s cultural heritage landscape. But, a lack of policy and a clear plan on how and where these objects will be displayed will only lead to further mishandling of the objects. It is important that cultural institutions and other stakeholders draft a comprehensive plan of action.