C R Gowri Shanker
JANUARY 16, 2017
Hyderabad: Stolen antiques make their way back home
The panel ‘Devotees of Buddha’, that had gone missing from Amravati, has been returned by Australia
Hyderabad: Perseverance, evidence, hot pursuit and diplomacy are paying off in the retrieval of stolen and smuggled antiquities from abroad.
Last year, the Australian government returned a stone sculpture stolen from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, a 900-year-old idol of Goddess Pratyangira from Tamil Nadu, and a seated Buddha from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
The National Gallery of Australia had bought the three sculptures as well as a third century rock carving worth $8,40,000, from controversial Indian art dealer Subhash Kapoor in 2005.
The National Gallery of Australia had bought the three sculptures as well as a third century rock carving worth $8,40,000, from controversial Indian art dealer Subhash Kapoor in 2005.
The sculptures are on display at the National Museum in New Delhi now.
Idol of the goddess Pratyangira.
Photographic evidence from the French Institute of Pondicher-ry, which showed that the Pratyangira idol, which had been bought by the Australian government for $2,47,500, was in India in 1974, contradicted the dealer's claim.In May last year, the United States returned a set of seven metal, terracotta and stone statues of Saint Manik-kavichavakara, a Hindu mystic and poet, dating back to the Chola period, stolen from a Shiva temple in Sripuranthan village in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu.
There were also statues of Parvati, Ganesha, Bhu Devi, and Bahubali from various temples in Tamil Nadu and floral tiles from Kashmir, among other artifacts. These statues were smuggled out of the country years ago, sources in the Archaeological Survey of India said.
“There is no estimate of the number of antiquities smuggled out of the country or the number of stolen antiquities abroad, barring some. We are quite successful in retrieval in some cases,” an official said.
“There is no estimate of the number of antiquities smuggled out of the country or the number of stolen antiquities abroad, barring some. We are quite successful in retrieval in some cases,” an official said.
Seated Buddha from Mathura, UP
But the Central Bureau of Investigation has registered just one case of Indian antiquities stolen and sold in foreign countries between 2000 and 2016.
Since the change in government at the Centre, the culture ministry has actively pursued stolen artifacts.
Some were recovered thanks to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Attorney-General's Office.
The ministry has set up a National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, which has documented 15 lakh artefacts/antiques.
Since the change in government at the Centre, the culture ministry has actively pursued stolen artifacts.
Some were recovered thanks to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Attorney-General's Office.
The ministry has set up a National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, which has documented 15 lakh artefacts/antiques.
List of antiquities retrieved from abroad in the past
1. Sawn stucco Head Nalanda, Bihar U.K. and France 1976. Voluntarily returned by British Museum, London and Madam Krishna Robound of France to ASI Patna Circle
2. Nataraja of Chola period Sivapuram Tamil Nadu U.S.A. 1986 Through Court Case in U.K and U.S.A.
3. Terracotta Yakashi of Tamluk West Bengal U.K. 1986 Court case was instituted in London but out of Court settlement was reached Government.
4. Nataraja of Chola period Tiruvilakkadi, Tamil Nadu U.S.A 1986 Kimbell Art Museum returned the idol after Indemnity agreement was signed by the GOI on 12.8.1985
5. Nataraja of Chola period Pathur, Tamil Nadu U.K. 1991 Retrieved through Court case instituted in London.
6. Terracotta figures from Bhitargaon Uttar Pradesh from USA, 1991. The figure was returned voluntarily by Los Angeles Country Museum to Purana Qila, North Delhi
7. Amin pillars Amin, Haryana from UK 1979-80. Voluntarily returned to National Museum, New Delhi
8. Image of Buddha Bodhgaya, Bihar from USA 1999. Voluntarily returned without seeking any monetary compensation by Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York to Purana Qila, New Delhi
9. Sculpture of Krishnajanma, Dhubela Museum Chattarpur (M.P.) from USA 1999.
10. Paintings i) Chandigarh Museum ii) Chandigarh Museum from USA, 1990.
11. Image of Lakulisa Jageswar, UP from USA, 2000.
12. Decorative wooden panels (7 nos.) Rajasthan, from Holland 2001
13. Yogini Vrishanana, 1100 year old stone sculpture stolen from Lokari village, Uttar Pradesh from Paris 2013.
14. Nataraja idol, Tamil Nadu from Australia 2014.
15. Ardhanariswara, Tamil Nadu from Australia 2014.
16. Parrot Lady, Madhya Pradesh from Canada 2015.
7. Mahisamardini, Kashmir from Germany 2015.
Seated Buddha, Mathura, UP
(Above) Sandstone female figure from Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh with a parrot on her right ear, hence named the ‘Parrot Lady’ was detained in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in accordance with Canada’s Cultural Property Export and Import Act in 2010.
After the long negotiation between the Government of India and Canada under the provisions of UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, Paris 1970, the said image was handed over to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on April 15, 2015 by his Canadian counterpart.
Presently, the image is the custody of Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi.
A stone image of Durga Mahishamardini from Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir was stolen sometime in 1991 which was later on surfaced at Linden Museum, Stuttgart, Germany.
After verification of the object by expert to ascertain genuineness and authenticity, the image was returned back to India in the month of September 2015.
This metal image of Uma Permashwari of 11th century which was stolen from south India (Chola period) sometime in the year 2007 was purchased by “Asian Civilization Museum Singapore” from Sh. Subhash Kapoor, owner of controversial Art Gallery “Art of the Past” USA has been handed over by Asian Civilization Museum Singapore on 6th November 2015.
Archaeological Survey of India successfully retrieved three antiquities during the year 2015-16 which were illegally exported from India and surfaced abroad.
After verification of the object by expert to ascertain genuineness and authenticity, the image was returned back to India in the month of September 2015.
This metal image of Uma Permashwari of 11th century which was stolen from south India (Chola period) sometime in the year 2007 was purchased by “Asian Civilization Museum Singapore” from Sh. Subhash Kapoor, owner of controversial Art Gallery “Art of the Past” USA has been handed over by Asian Civilization Museum Singapore on 6th November 2015.
Archaeological Survey of India successfully retrieved three antiquities during the year 2015-16 which were illegally exported from India and surfaced abroad.
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