Three sculptures dating back to the 15th century AD were stolen from a Tamil Nadu temple nearly four decades ago. However as of 15th September the statues were returned by the British to the Indian High Commission in London on Tuesday,the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.
As per the statement,the three sculptures were of Lord Rama, Lakshamana, and Mata Sita which were handed over by British Police to Indian High Commission in London. The artifacts were returned as part of growing efforts to return sculptures of India’s cultural heritage from across the world.
The bronze images of Lord Rama, Lakshamana and Mata Sita are 90.5 cm, 78 cm, and 74.5 cm in height respectively and are masterpieces of Indian Metal Art. These sculptures were stolen from the Nagapattinam district of TN in 1978 from a Vijayanagar period temple. The sculptures are datable to the 15th century A.D , as per the statement from the ministry, said PTI .
They were voluntarily handed over to the police by an unknown UK-based collector when informed that they were stolen property.Officials said that the information from S Vijay Kumar of the India Pride Project helped trace and identify the idols.
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Prahlad Patel virtually attended the handing over ceremony of the three sculptures at the High Commission of India, London.The handover ceremony was also attended by officials of the Metropolitan Police and by officials in Chennai. Patel expressed his acknowledgment towards British Police, special Idol Wing, Government of Tamil Nadu, Archaeological Survey of India and the High Commission of India, London for their efforts to bring these precious idols back to India. Patel said that only 13 antique items were returned to India between 1947 and 2014, but after that, more than 40 such antiquities have returned home. “Efforts are also on to return one idol from the British Museum”.
Patel also stated,“It is a matter of happiness that since independence we received only 13 sculptures from foreign countries but since 2014 we have received more than 40 sculptures and we are trying to get more sculptures in coming years. We are talking to British Museum to bring the Vag Devi idol back to India.”
Detective chief inspector of the Metropolitan Police Tim Wright said: “The Metropolitan Police are proud to have been involved in the return of these Chola bronzes to India. Not only are they beautiful and historically significant, they are of course of religious importance, and therefore it is particularly gratifying that they are to be returned to the temple from which they were taken”.
Indian high commissioner Gaitri Kumar calling it an “auspicious day” thanked the police for their efforts to recover the idols.She also recalled recent instances when idols stolen from India were recovered and repatriated to India by the mission.
Coordinated action by various agencies, including the ministry of external affairs, Archaeological Survey of India and law enforcement agencies such as the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has led to the renewed impetus in recent years to the protection of India’s cultural heritage.
The high commission in London has so far repatriated the following idols:
- The Bramha- Brahmani sculpture, stolen from the world heritage site Rani-Ki Vav, was reclaimed to the Archaeological Survey of Inida in 2017. It has found a prominent place in the Purana Quila museum in Delhi.
- On July 29, 2020, the Natesha Shiva statue stolen in 1998 from the Ghateshwar temple in Baroli, Rajasthan was returned to the ASI.
- On August 15, 2019, two antiques – a 17th century bronze idol of Navanitha Krishna and a 2nd century limestone carved pillar motif were returned to the high commission by the US embassy in London.
