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US returns 297 antiquities to India during Prime Minister Modi’s visit
This latest return brings the total number of cultural artefacts repatriated by the US to India since 2016 to 578, the highest by any country.
The antiquities spanned a period of nearly 4,000 years from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE. / X@narendramodi
In a significant gesture of cultural cooperation, the United States has returned 297 antiquities to India, further strengthening the ties between the two nations. The handover took place on the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US for the Quad Summit.
The move is part of an ongoing effort to return stolen and trafficked cultural property to India, reflecting the commitments made by both President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Modi during their meeting in June 2023.
The antiquities, spanning a period of nearly 4,000 years from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE, were showcased to the leaders on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware. Among the artifacts returned are terracotta, stone, metal, wood, and ivory objects from various parts of India, highlighting the country's rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Notable items include a sandstone Apsara statue from Central India (10-11th century CE), a bronze Jain Tirthankar (15-16th century CE), and a terracotta vase from Eastern India (3-4th century CE).
Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to President Biden, emphasizing that these artefacts are not only remnants of India’s material history but also essential to the nation's civilization and cultural consciousness.
The restitution was facilitated under a Cultural Property Agreement signed in July 2024 between the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and India’s Archaeological Survey of India. This latest return brings the total number of cultural artefacts repatriated by the US to India since 2016 to 578, the highest by any country.
The growing trend of returning stolen heritage began in 2016 when 10 antiquities were returned during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, followed by 157 artefacts in 2021, and 105 in 2023. The returned artefacts will soon be repatriated to India, where they will contribute to the ongoing efforts to preserve and celebrate the country's historical legacy.
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