US returns 297 smuggled antiquities during PM Modi’s visit

PM Modi inspecting antiquities returned to India (File Image)

The United States has returned more than 297 antiquities, which were smuggled out of India, an official statement said on September 22. This move comes at a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to the country.

PM Modi also wrote about it on X and 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.”

He thanked President Joe 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 official statement said.

With this, India has recovered a total of 640 ancient items since 2014, the officials said, adding that the United States alone returned 578 antiquities smuggled from India – the highest number of cultural artefacts returned by any country to India.

Some of the notable antiquities handed over to India include an 'apsara' in sandstone from central India belonging to 10-11th century CE, a Jain Tirthankar in bronze belonging to 15-16th century CE, terracotta vase from eastern India belonging to 3-4th century CE, and a stone sculpture from South India belonging to 1st century BCE-1st century CE.

Other prominent items include Lord Ganesh in bronze from south India belonging to 17-18th century CE, standing Lord Buddha in sandstone from north India from 15-16th century CE, and Lord Vishnu in bronze from Eastern India belonging to 17-18th century CE.

During PM Modi’s 2021 visit to the US, 157 antiquities were handed over to India, including the bronze Nataraja statue from the 12th century CE. And, after the Prime Minister’s 2023 US visit, another 105 antiquities were returned to India.

In July 2024, on the sidelines of the 46th World Heritage Committee at New Delhi, India and the United States signed the first ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the USA.