PM Modi will bring home 157 priceless artefacts and antiquities from the US

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi examines one of the antiques that will be returning with him to India from the United States

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not return empty-handed from the United States. Arriving home on board the Prime Minister's special aircraft will be 157 artefacts and antiquities that were handed over to him by officials in the United States. 

The list includes a range of artefacts from the 10th century CE to the 14th century CE and around 45 antiquities from Before Common Era.

Besides historic antiquities such as the copper anthropomorphic object of 2000 BC or the terracotta vase from the 2nd CE, the collection includes an exquisite bronze Nataraja from the 12th CE and a one-and-a-half metre bas relief panel of Revanta made of sandstone belonging to the 10th CE.

Image: A 15th century CE artefact depicting the three Thirthankaras in seated position

Out of the 157 artefacts and antiquities, 71 are cultural while the rest are figurines linked to Hinduism (60), Buddhism (16) and Jainism (9). 

While some of these artefacts and antiquities are made of metal, the collection also includes stone and terracotta works. 

The bronze collection is mainly comprised of ornate figurines of the well-known postures of Lakshmi Narayana, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Buddha, the 24 Jain Tirthankaras and other unnamed deities and divine figures.

Image: A 12th century CE artefact depicting two male figures standing in a corner.

Motifs that include religious sculptures from Hinduism, especially the chariot-driving Surya, Lord Vishnu and his consorts, Three-headed Brahma, Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurti, Dancing Ganesha.

Buddhist motifs that are part of the collection include those of a standing Buddha, Boddhisattva Majushri and Tara. The Jain motifs include that of the Tirthankara, Padmasana Tirthankara and Jaina Choubisi.

The priceless collection also includes 56 terracotta pieces and an 18th CE sword with a sheath and an inscription that mentions Guru Hargovind Singh in Persian. 

Image: A bronze idol showing Lord Buddha in standing position from 14th or 15th century CE

Prime Minister Modi thanked United States authorities for repatriating the antiquities to India. PM Modi and President Biden have expressed their commitment to strengthen their efforts to combat the theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.

The latest batch of antiques is expected to provide a boost to the continuous efforts of the continued efforts of the Narendra Modi government to bring back the country's antiquities and artefacts from across the world.

In July this year, the National Gallery of Australia announced its plans to return stolen artworks worth $2.2 million to India. These antiquities had been stolen from various parts of India like Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Bihar.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi examines one of the antiques that will be returning with him to India from the United States

In November 2020, an Annapurna Murti was retrieved from the University of Regina’s collection in Canada's Mackenzie Art Gallery. The statue was stolen from India in 1913.

Between 2014 and 2021, over 200 antiquities have either been retrieved or are in the process of being retrieved. Comparatively, only 13 antiques were retrieved between 1976 and 2013.