In a recent move by the Government of India, over 1,440 antiquities valued at around $10 million will be making their homecoming to India. The collection includes pieces allegedly linked to Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener, recovered after extensive investigations.
The pieces were returned at a ceremony where Manish Kulhary from the Consulate General of India and Alexandra de Armas, Group Supervisor from the Homeland Security Investigation of New York Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Group were present, reported PTI, citing a statement by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.
“We will continue to investigate the many trafficking networks that have targeted Indian cultural heritage,” Bragg was quoted.
The Homecoming-
The United States is giving back 1,440 antiquities to the people of India, according to statements in the reports.
There is a special antique piece coming back home: the Tanesar Mother Goddess, carved from green-grey schist and trafficked from Tanesara-Mahadeva village in Rajasthan, and a sandstone sculpture of a Celestial Dancer, looted from a temple in Madhya Pradesh.
During Bragg’s time as District Attorney, the recovery of 2,100 antiquities stolen from over 30 countries was carried out by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit. This recovery of artifacts was valued at almost USD 230 million, according to the report.
Around 1,000 of these recovered antiquities, including more than 600 from India, will be returned in the coming months.
Mann Ki Baat-
In an episode of Mann Ki Baat by PM Narendra Modi, aired in September, he appreciated the US for returning artifacts to India.
PM Modi said, “During my visit to the US, the US government has returned around 300 ancient artefacts to India. US President Biden, very affectionately, showed me some of these artefacts in his private residence in Delaware. Returned artefacts are made of materials such as terracotta, stone, ivory, wood, copper and bronze. Many of these are four thousand years old.”
“Many of these artefacts were taken out of the country through smuggling and other illegal means. This is a serious crime. In a way, it is like destroying our heritage. But I am very happy that in the last decade, many such artefacts and many of our ancient heritages, have been brought back home,” he added.
