Live
- AP likely to receive rains for next three days amid formation of low pressure area
- Telangana Braces for Heavy Rain as IMD Issues Yellow Alert
- Coming back to Test cricket, where I belong the most, is special, says Pant
- YS Jagan writes to PM Modi, seeks inquiry into Tirupati laddu controversy
- Kejriwal questions if RSS okay with BJP's politics
- 'Time to seize the gold': Rahul Gandhi wishes Team India for Chess Olympiad's final round
- Search operation yields progress in landslide tragedy on NH 66
- Businessman killed, wife wounded
- Kharge reaffirms Cong's development agenda for J&K
- Disruption in lounge facilities AAHL clarifies
US Returns 297 Stolen Antiquities To India During PM Modi's Visit
- Prime Minister Modi receives 297 recovered artifacts from President Biden, bringing the total of repatriated Indian antiquities from the US since 2016 to 578.
- The collection includes terracotta pieces from Eastern India, as well as artifacts crafted from stone, metal, wood, and ivory from different parts of the country.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent US visit, a significant cultural exchange took place as 297 stolen Indian antiquities were returned to India. This repatriation marks a milestone in the ongoing efforts to recover India's cultural heritage, bringing the total number of artifacts returned by the US since 2016 to an impressive 578 - the highest number returned by any country to India.
The antiquities, spanning nearly 4,000 years of Indian history (2000 BCE to 1900 CE), represent various regions and artistic traditions of the subcontinent. The collection includes terracotta pieces from Eastern India, as well as artifacts crafted from stone, metal, wood, and ivory from different parts of the country.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to President Biden and the US government for their support in this endeavor, emphasizing that these objects are not merely historical artifacts but embody the essence of India's civilization and cultural consciousness.
This repatriation builds upon previous successful returns during Modi's earlier US visits. In 2021, 157 antiquities were returned, including a prized 12th-century bronze Nataraja statue. Another 105 artifacts were repatriated during Modi's 2023 visit.
The return of these antiquities underscores the strengthening cultural ties between India and the US. It also highlights the growing cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural properties, as evidenced by the landmark 'Cultural Property Agreement' signed between the two nations in July 2023.
This ongoing collaboration not only aids in preserving India's rich cultural heritage but also reinforces the diplomatic bonds between the two countries, setting a positive precedent for international efforts in protecting and repatriating cultural artifacts.
