New Delhi: The US on Monday announced the return of 105 smuggled artifacts to India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic state visit to the United States in June. A repatriation ceremony for 105 smuggled antiquities handed over by the US was held at the Indian Consulate in New York today.
India’s Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, thanked the US side, especially the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Smuggling Unit and the Homeland Security Investigative Team for their excellent cooperation and support. Sandhu said that for the people of India, these were not just pieces of art but part of their living heritage and culture.
Significantly, 105 artifacts were stolen by smugglers from many parts of India. Of this, 47 are from East India, 27 are from South India, 22 are from Central India, 6 are from North India, and 3 are from Western India.
These artifacts date from the 2nd-3rd century to the 18th century. Many artifacts are also from the 19th century. These artifacts are made of terracotta, stone, metal, and wood. About 50 artifacts are related to religious themes (Hinduism, Jainism, and Islam) and the rest are of cultural importance.
The US has handed over a total of 278 cultural artifacts to India since 2016. The US handed over 16 antiquities to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2016 visit to the US. Whereas, in 2021, 157 artifacts were handed over.
