Ahead of Modi-Morrison summit, Australia returns 29 antiquities to India

On Monday morning, PM Modi inspected the antiquities and thanked his Australian counterpart for taking the initiative to return the antiquities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspecting the On Monday morning, PM Modi inspected the antiquities and thanked his Australian counterpart for taking the initiative to return the antiquities. (Photo: Ministry of Culture)

Ahead of the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Monday afternoon, Australia announced the return of 29 antiquities to India. These correspond to six broad themes – Shiva and his disciples (4), worshipping Shakti (11), Lord Vishnu and his forms (13), Jain tradition (19), portraits (22) and 28 decorative objects. The antiquities come from different time periods, with the earliest ones dating back to the 9-10 centuries.

These are primarily sculptures and paintings made using a variety of materials – sandstone, marble, bronze, brass and paper, said a government source, adding that they represent a large geographical region in India – Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with one of the antiquities. (Photo: Ministry of Culture)

On Monday morning, PM Modi inspected the antiquities and thanked his Australian counterpart for taking the initiative to return the antiquities. PM Modi tweeted: “I would like to especially thank you for taking the initiative to return ancient Indian artefacts. Among them are hundreds of years old idols and pictures illegally removed from Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh along with many other Indian states.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell also tweeted about the development: “During the year of India’s 75th anniversary of Independence, Australia worked with the @NatGalleryAus (National Gallery of Australia) to return 29 culturally significant artefacts to the Indian Gov & people of India on 6 March.”

I am delighted to share that during the year of 🇮🇳’s 75th anniversary of Independence, 🇦🇺 worked with the @NatGalleryAus to return 29 culturally significant artefacts to the Indian Gov & people of 🇮🇳 on 6 March (1/4) #AmritMahotsav #Dosti @HCICanberra https://t.co/AM7ZMWsvTY

— Barry O’Farrell AO (@AusHCIndia) March 21, 2022

The repatriated works include 13 works of art connected to art dealer Subhash Kapoor through Art of the Past, 12 paintings and photographs given by the American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia, three sculptures acquired by the National Gallery of Australia in 1969 and another one acquired from art dealer William Wolff in 1989.

In September last year, the United States returned 157 artefacts and antiquities, during the Prime Minister’s visit, where he and US President Joe Biden also expressed commitment to strengthening efforts to combat theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.

India has brought back several antiquities from other nations over the years. As per the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is the custodian of all such artifacts, a total of 228 antiquities have been returned to India since 2014, while 13 such objects came back home between 1976 and 2013.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

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