US Hands Over 300 Nearly Stolen Indian Antiquities Amid PM Modi's Quad Summit Visit

A total of 297 stolen antiquities from India were returned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US on Saturday.

This brings the total number of Indian antiquities recovered from the US since 2016 to 578, the highest number of antiquities returned by any country to India.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/MEAIndia

PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the US government and President Joe Biden for the return of these artefacts.

In a post on X, he said, "Deepening cultural connect and strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties. I am extremely grateful to President Biden and the US Government for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India."

Some of these antiquities were displayed to PM Modi and President Biden during their bilateral meeting at Biden's residence in Delaware, symbolising the handover.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted, "Prime Minister thanked President Biden for his support in the return of these artefacts. He noted that these objects were not just part of India's historical material culture, but formed the inner core of its civilisation and consciousness."

The antiquities span a period of almost 4000 years, from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE, and originate from various regions of India. Most of them are terracotta artefacts from Eastern India, with others made of stone, metal, wood, and ivory, representing different parts of the country, according to the MEA's statement.

The MEA further highlighted that the restitution of cultural property has become a key aspect of India-US cultural relations. Since 2016, the US government has facilitated the return of numerous trafficked or stolen antiquities to India.

In previous visits by PM Modi, several antiquities were also returned.

In 2021, during his US visit, 157 antiquities were handed over, including a 12th-century bronze Nataraja statue. Similarly, 105 antiquities were returned during his 2023 visit.

In July, India and the US signed their first-ever "Cultural Property Agreement" to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities between the two countries, on the sidelines of the 46th World Heritage Committee in Delhi.