New Delhi, Sep 26: The United States handed over 157 artefacts & antiquities to India during Prime
Minister Modi’s 3-day visit. PM Modi & US President Joe Biden committed to strengthening their
efforts to combat theft, illicit trade & trafficking of cultural objects during their meeting.
The antiquities list has a diverse set of items – a 1.5 metre bas-relief (artistic technique that involves
lightly carving a design into a surface) panel of Revanta in sandstone from the 10th century, an 8.5
cm tall, exquisite bronze Nataraja from the 12th century, 56 terracotta pieces (vase from 2nd century,
pair of deer from 12th century, bust of female from 14th century and an 18th century sword in its
sheath with inscription mentioning Guru Hargovind Singh in Persian, among other items) along with
some bronze figurines and copper objects.
While most items belong to the period between 11th and 14th centuries, some artefacts like a copper anthropomorphic object and a terracotta vase belong to 2000 BC and 2nd century respectively. Around 45 antiquities belong to the Before Common Era. While around 71 artefacts are cultural, the other figurines relate to Hinduism (60), Buddhism (16) and Jainism (9). Recovered antiquities are made up of a variety of metals, stone, and terracotta.
The bronze collection primarily contains ornate figurines of the well-known postures of Lakshmi Narayana, Buddha, Vishnu, Siva Parvathi and the 24 Jain Tirthankaras and the less common Kankalamurti, Brahmi and Nandikesa besides other unnamed deities and divine figures. The motifs include religious sculptures from Hinduism (three-headed Brahma, chariot-driving Surya, Vishnu and his consorts, Siva as Dakshinamurti, dancing Ganesha and many more), Buddhism (standing Buddha, Boddhisattva Majushri, Tara) and Jainism (Jain Tirthankara, Padmasana Tirthankara, Jain
Chaubisi) as well as some secular motifs (amorphous couple in Samabhanga, Chowri Bearer, female playing drum among others).
Between 2014 to 2021, more than 200 stolen antiquities have been returned, or are in the process of being returned to India, as per Archeological Survey of India (ASI) – custodian of these objects once they return to India. In July 2021, the National Gallery of Australia announced its plans to return stolen artwork worth $2.2 million to India. All these artefacts
will be sent to the original locations from where they were stolen after a due diligence process by the ASI.