Toronto: A University of Canada will return a unique idol of Hindu Goddess Annapurna to India in an effort to ‘correct historical mistakes’ and recover from the ‘unpleasant legacy of colonialism’, Which was stolen and brought from India more than a century ago.
This sculpture is part of the University of Regina collection at the Mackenzie Art Gallery. This statue is part of Norman Mackenzie’s 1936 original will. Artist Divya Mehra drew attention to the fact that the statue was brought in more than a century ago, the university said in a statement on Thursday. Her attention was drawn to this as she dug into Mackenzie’s permanent collection and prepared for her exhibition.
According to the statement, the statue was scheduled to be returned digitally on November 19 and will be returned soon. The interim president and chancellor of the university, Dr. Thomas Chase, digitally met Indian High Commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria to officially send the statue to India.
Bisaria said, “We are happy that this unique idol of Annapurna is on its way back home. I am grateful to Regina University for taking proactive steps to restore this cultural heritage to India. ”
The university said that on the basis of its thorough research, Mehra came to the conclusion that during her visit to India in 1913, Mackenzie’s eye fell on the statue and when a stranger found out that Mackenzie wanted to get the statue, she went to Varanasi. Stole him from his original place on the banks of the Ganges.
