USA, Sept 23 (Alliance News):The United States is set to return 297 antiquities stolen or smuggled from India, many of which date back centuries. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked this significant handover during a recent meeting, showcasing several of the artifacts.
In July, the US and India signed an agreement aimed at protecting cultural property and preventing illegal trade, streamlining the return process for stolen antiquities.
The Indian government announced that the relics, primarily terracotta artifacts from Eastern India, would be repatriated shortly.
The handover coincided with Modi’s visit to Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, where the president held a Quad summit to strengthen ties between the US, India, Japan, and Australia.
Modi expressed gratitude to Biden for facilitating the return of the artifacts, emphasizing their significance as integral to India’s historical and cultural identity.
The collection includes a range of items, from sculptures to vases, spanning a period from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE.
Notable pieces include a 10th to 11th-century sandstone sculpture of Apsara, a celestial performer in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and a fragment depicting a turbaned man alongside two women and an elephant rider.
India has faced challenges in protecting its cultural heritage from looters but has made progress in recent years. In 2022, the US returned 307 stolen treasures to India, largely linked to the notorious art dealer Subhash Kapoor, who was sentenced for smuggling offenses.
Since 2016, the US has repatriated 578 cultural artifacts to India, marking a growing focus on cultural exchange and cooperation between the two nations.
