“This will make every Indian happy”: Prime Minister Modi on handing over of 105 trafficked antiquities by the US

Expressing gratitude to the United States for handing over 105 items of trafficked antiquities to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (July 19, 2023) said that this would make every Indian happy. The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Modi’s successful visit to the US in June. The artefacts will soon be transported to India.

Responding to a tweet by the Embassy of India in Washington DC announcing this development, he said, “This will make every Indian happy. Grateful to USA for this. These precious artefacts hold immense cultural and religious significance. Their homecoming is a testament to our commitment to preserving our heritage and rich history.”

The 150 retrieved artefacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India – with 47 from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, 6 from Northern India, and 3 from Western India. Spanning a period from 2nd-3rdcentury CE to 18th-19th century CE, the artefacts are made of terracotta, stone, metal and wood. Around 50 artefacts relate to religious subjects (Hinduism, Jainism and Islam) and the rest are of cultural significance, the Consulate General of India in New York said on Monday (July 17, 2023), after holding a repatriation ceremony for the 105 trafficked antiquities.

Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu thanked the US, particularly Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Trafficking Unit and the Homeland Security Investigation Team for their cooperation and support. He highlighted that for the people of India, these were not just art but part of their living heritage and culture. The ceremony was attended by officials from the District Attorney’s Office and the Homeland Security Investigation Team.

It is worth noting that during Prime Minister Modi’s US visit, the two countries had agreed to work out a Cultural Property Agreement that would help prevent such trafficking of cultural artifacts in the future. This adds value to the dynamic bilateral collaboration between the US Homeland Security and Indian law enforcement agencies.

The Government of India has been making concerted efforts to bring back stolen Indian antiquities from abroad. During the Prime Minister’s 2016 visit to the US, 16 antiquities were handed over by the US. Similarly, 157 artefacts were returned to India after the 2021 state visit. Overall, the US has repatriated 278 cultural artefacts to India since 2016.