New Delhi : America has handed over 297 ancient artifacts to India during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These ancient precious artifacts were smuggled out of the country. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Joe Biden and the US government for returning these artifacts. With this, the total number of ancient objects recovered since 2014 has reached 640, in which America has returned the most objects.
This information was given in an official statement on Sunday. Official sources said that smuggling of cultural properties has been an issue for a long time. Prime Minister Modi said in a post on 'X', “Deepening cultural engagement and strengthening the fight against illicit smuggling of cultural properties, I am extremely grateful to President Joe Biden and the US government for returning 297 invaluable artifacts to India.”
America alone returned 578 items
According to the official statement, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Joe Biden for returning these artifacts. He said that these objects are not only a part of India's historical culture but also the inner basis of its civilization and consciousness. Officials said that with this, the total number of ancient objects recovered by India since 2014 has reached 640. America alone has returned 578 objects. This is the highest number of cultural artifacts returned to India by any country.
These are special among the returned artifacts
Some of the notable artefacts returned to India include an 'Apsara' sandstone figure from Central India dated to 10-11th century BC, a Jain Tirthankara in bronze dated to 15-16th century BC, a terracotta vase from Eastern India dated to 3rd-4th century BC and a stone sculpture from South India dated to 1st century BC. Other major artefacts include a bronze statue of Lord Ganesha from South India dated to 17-18th century, a sandstone statue of Lord Buddha from North India dated to 15-16th century and a bronze statue of Lord Vishnu from Eastern India dated to 17-18th century.
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. @POTUS @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/0jziIYZ1GO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2024
Artefacts returned in 2021 and 2023 as well
Earlier also, artifacts have been returned to India during Prime Minister Modi's US visit. Officials said that during Prime Minister Modi's US visit in 2021, the US government returned 157 artifacts. These included a bronze statue of Nataraja of the 12th century BC. A few days after Modi's US visit in 2023, 105 artifacts were returned to India.
(With agency input)
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