The government has stated that 72 antiquities are currently awaiting repatriation from 11 countries. These include antique idols and sculptures that have been notified for return to India by the respective countries where they were discovered, but have not yet arrived.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the repatriation funds are allocated from the regular budget of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as mentioned by Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy.
Reddy’s statement was in response to a question in Lok Sabha about the return of stolen antiquities. The ASI, under the Culture Ministry, is responsible for retrieving stolen or illegally exported art objects. Once the objects are repatriated to the Indian consulate, the ASI covers the logistics for their return.
In a recent statement, the Ministry revealed that India has retrieved over 200 stolen artefacts from countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, the US, and France since 2014. The US, in October, announced the repatriation of 307 antiquities stolen from India and valued at nearly $4 million.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that 20 antiquities retrieved by India from various countries will be displayed at the first culture working group meeting of the G20 in Khajuraho in February 2023. The ASI also displays some of these objects at the Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved Objects in the Purana Qila complex. Additionally, some objects are being handed over to state governments for repatriation to their original locations.
Regarding the National Mission of Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) digital database, Reddy stated that 16.5 lakh antiquities have been documented so far. The agency also conducts workshops and training programs across the country on the documentation of antiquities and built heritage.
Divya A reports on culture, tourism, media, broadcasting, and visas.
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