India is set to welcome back 297 antiquities from the United States after months of investigation and negotiation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed that these precious items, many of which were either stolen or illegally trafficked out of India, will soon be returned. This development coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to the U.S. from 21 to 24 September. During this visit, the U.S. took steps to facilitate the return of these cultural treasures.
In an official statement released by the MEA on Sunday, it was announced that “in a symbolic handing over, a select few pieces were showcased to the prime minister and President Biden on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.” The symbolic gesture marked the beginning of a complex and meticulous process to bring these antiquities back to India.
Recovering antiquities is a lengthy and intricate process, requiring detailed documentation and coordination between various authorities. According to Dr. Sanjib Kumar Singh, a senior archaeologist and museologist at the National Museum in New Delhi, the process involves thorough collaboration between Indian consulates and U.S. authorities. He explained, “The embassy or consulate starts negotiations, on the advice of the Archaeological Survey of India, to share documents and photos pertaining to antiquity, to prove how the object belongs to our country. This is followed by discussions. Then, the antiquities are returned.”
The collection of antiquities being returned is a diverse array of items. Some were originally housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York, while others were confiscated by U.S. authorities and had been in the possession of the New York Attorney General’s office. Modi expressed his appreciation for this development, writing on social media platform X, “Deepening cultural connect and strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties.”
Antiquities Dating Back 4,000 Years
The antiquities being returned to India span a remarkable time period of nearly 4,000 years, ranging from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE. The items have origins from various regions across India, with most being terracotta artifacts from the eastern parts of the country. The collection also includes items made from stone, metal, wood, and ivory.
A significant part of the antiquities recovered in the U.S. can be traced back to Subhash Kapoor, a notorious figure in the art trafficking world. Kapoor, who operated an art gallery in the U.S., was implicated in the trafficking of over 2,500 antiquities. From 2011 to 2022, U.S. Homeland Security and the New York District Attorney’s office conducted investigations that led to the recovery of these artifacts, which were valued at over $143 million. Of the 2,500 items recovered, 307 pieces, estimated to be worth $4 million, are now slated for return to India.
Some of the most remarkable pieces in this collection include an apsara (celestial being) carved in sandstone from central India, dating back to the 10th or 11th century CE, a bronze Jain Tirthankar from central India dating to the 15th or 16th century CE, and a bronze statue of the Hindu deity Vishnu from eastern India, crafted between the 17th and 18th centuries CE.
Additionally, a number of items from this group had been part of the Met’s collection. In 2023, the museum announced that it would return 15 significant pieces to India. Among them are a terracotta sculpture of a yakshi (a female spirit associated with fertility) from 1st century BCE West Bengal, a bronze sculpture depicting the god Revanta returning from a hunt, crafted in the 10th century CE, and a 15th-century parikara (backplate). The director of the Met, Max Hollein, noted in a statement, “Last month, in light of new provenance information, we returned 16 works to India, including the celestial dancer, a sculpture that enraptured visitors for decades.”
These items, now formally handed over, are part of the total 297 antiquities being returned to India as a result of the efforts by U.S. and Indian authorities.
### The Process of Returning Antiquities
The return of stolen or trafficked cultural artifacts is governed by India’s Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972. This act provides the legal framework for the identification, registration, and accession of cultural objects. Proper identification and accession—whereby each item is assigned a unique number for permanent storage and cataloging—are critical to ensuring the security and preservation of these historical treasures.
However, recovering these artifacts from overseas markets or museums is often complicated by the significant time lapse between when an item is stolen and when it reappears in foreign collections. Smugglers tend to target culturally unique or region-specific objects that hold both high monetary value and deep cultural significance. Statues of deities like yoginis, or items like ancient temple artifacts, are often the most sought after by traffickers.
According to Sanjib Kumar, spokesperson for the National Museum, New Delhi, “These smugglers often target objects which cannot be found outside of India, or are unique to the region, like yogini, or statues of various gods. These become extremely valuable, both in terms of their monetary worth and cultural significance.”
While many stolen artifacts remain at large, the return of these 297 antiquities represents a significant diplomatic and cultural achievement. “The return of antiquities is of course part of diplomacy, but, either way, it is a great moment for India’s cultural heritage,” Kumar added.
This diplomatic success highlights not only the importance of international cooperation in protecting cultural heritage but also the ongoing efforts by the Indian government to retrieve and preserve its stolen antiquities. Thanks to these initiatives, a significant portion of India’s cultural legacy will be restored, allowing future generations to experience and appreciate the artistic and historical treasures of the country.
