Pulling the Act

A proposed amendment in the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act to make India an ‘open market’ for antiquities trade

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had a rather interesting gift for him – a precious stone sculpture that once reportedly adorned the temples of Khajuraho. The “Parrot Lady”, voluptuous and scantily clad, is back India. But the Archaeological Survey of India fears that several other Indian antiquities have been traded for large sums illegally. In a bid to curb this illegal trade of antiquities now, the government has proposed an amendment in the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1772.

The Centre has suggested making India an “open market” for antiquities trade. The 1772 act, in its present form, bars any person, other than the government or an authorised agency, from exporting antiques.

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Even as Subhash Kapoor, an American citizen – accused of smuggling over 2,500 artefacts into the US for sale to museums and collectors – awaits trial in an Indian court, the amendment, according to the art fraternity, will possibly reduce illegal dealings. “For Indians, these artefacts hold sentimental value. If we are allowed to buy-sell them, the domestic market will only strengthen, even bringing back some of India’s lost art,” says Kolkata-based gallerist Vikram Bachhawat. He cites the case of China, which made changes in its antiquities act recently. “This allowed the trade of artefacts in the domestic market. There were so many Chinese antique dealers in the US, now they have completely dried up. Of course, in countries like the US and the UK these antiquities can be freely bought and sold,” adds Bachhawat.

Renu Modi, director of Gallery Espace, also supports the initiative. “It’s a great way to get back antiquities to India. There is money and interest to make purchases. Giving tax benefits on such purchases will help. Vijay Mallya had problems with the import duties for the Tipu Sultan sword bought by him at an auction,” she says.

The Delhi-based gallerist does add a word of caution though. “The government will have to be very careful with the details. There needs to be close monitoring. It can’t be free trade. That will deprive the temples of all the treasures. Unfortunately, in India, several of these works are still not registered or documented properly, which leads to more opportunity for illegal trade,”
she adds.

Vandana Kalra

Vandana Kalra is an art critic and Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express. She has spent more than two decades chronicling arts, culture and everyday life, with modern and contemporary art at the heart of her practice. With a sustained engagement in the arts and a deep understanding of India’s cultural ecosystem, she is regarded as a distinctive and authoritative voice in contemporary art journalism in India. Vandana Kalra's career has unfolded in step with the shifting contours of India’s cultural landscape, from the rise of the Indian art market to the growing prominence of global biennales and fairs. Closely tracking its ebbs and surges, she reports from studios, galleries, museums and exhibition spaces and has covered major Indian and international art fairs, museum exhibitions and biennales, including the Venice Biennale, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Documenta, Islamic Arts Biennale. She has also been invited to cover landmark moments in modern Indian art, including SH Raza’s exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the opening of the MF Husain Museum in Doha, reflecting her long engagement with the legacies of India’s modern masters. Alongside her writing, she applies a keen editorial sensibility, shaping and editing art and cultural coverage into informed, cohesive narratives. Through incisive features, interviews and critical reviews, she brings clarity to complex artistic conversations, foregrounding questions of process, patronage, craft, identity and cultural memory. The Global Art Circuit: She provides extensive coverage of major events like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Serendipity Arts Festival, and high-profile international auctions. Artist Spotlights: She writes in-depth features on modern masters (like M.F. Husain) and contemporary performance artists (like Marina Abramović). Art and Labor: A recurring theme in her writing is how art reflects the lives of the marginalized, including migrants, farmers, and labourers. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent portfolio is dominated by the coverage of the 2025 art season in India: 1. Kochi-Muziris Biennale & Serendipity Arts Festival "At Serendipity Arts Festival, a 'Shark Tank' of sorts for art and crafts startups" (Dec 20, 2025): On how a new incubator is helping artisans pitch products to investors. "Artist Birender Yadav's work gives voice to the migrant self" (Dec 17, 2025): A profile of an artist whose decade-long practice focuses on brick kiln workers. "At Kochi-Muziris Biennale, a farmer’s son from Patiala uses his art to draw attention to Delhi’s polluted air" (Dec 16, 2025). "Kochi Biennale showstopper Marina Abramović, a pioneer in performance art" (Dec 7, 2025): An interview with the world-renowned artist on the power of reinvention. 2. M.F. Husain & Modernism "Inside the new MF Husain Museum in Qatar" (Nov 29, 2025): A three-part series on the opening of Lawh Wa Qalam in Doha, exploring how a 2008 sketch became the architectural core of the museum. "Doha opens Lawh Wa Qalam: Celebrating the modernist's global legacy" (Nov 29, 2025). 3. Art Market & Records "Frida Kahlo sets record for the most expensive work by a female artist" (Nov 21, 2025): On Kahlo's canvas The Dream (The Bed) selling for $54.7 million. "All you need to know about Klimt’s canvas that is now the most expensive modern artwork" (Nov 19, 2025). "What’s special about a $12.1 million gold toilet?" (Nov 19, 2025): A quirky look at a flushable 18-karat gold artwork. 4. Art Education & History "Art as play: How process-driven activities are changing the way children learn art in India" (Nov 23, 2025). "A glimpse of Goa's layered history at Serendipity Arts Festival" (Dec 9, 2025): Exploring historical landmarks as venues for contemporary art. Signature Beats Vandana is known for her investigative approach to the art economy, having recently written about "Who funds the Kochi-Muziris Biennale?" (Dec 11, 2025), detailing the role of "Platinum Benefactors." She also explores the spiritual and geometric aspects of art, as seen in her retrospective on artist Akkitham Narayanan and the history of the Cholamandal Artists' Village (Nov 22, 2025). ... Read More

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