Modi's US visit; 297 precious artefacts and antiquities smuggled from India returned; pictures

WASHINGTON: The United States has returned 297 precious artefacts and antiquities to India in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. These antiquities were stolen from India or smuggled illegally. Modi's earlier visits to the US too were successful at recovering the precious assets to India. A total of 157 antiquities, including the 12th-century Nataraja sculpture, were returned in 2021. After Modi's visit in 2023, 105 antiquities arrived in India. Between 2004 and 2013, only one antiquity was returned to India.

Important antiquities returned

Apsara Sculpture - 10th-11th century

Jain Tirthankara - 15th-16th century

Terracotta decorative vessel - 3rd-4th century

South Indian stone sculpture - 1st century BC

Bronze Ganesha Idol - 17th-18th century

Buddha Statue - 15th-16th century

Bronze idol of Krishna - 17th-18th century

Granite idol of Lord Muruga - 13th-14th century

Returned since 2014 - 640

US - 578

UK - 16

Australia - 40