Big impact of PM Modi’s initiative, America handed over 105 ancient heritage to India through smuggling

New York. On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, great success is being achieved in bringing back the antiquities kept abroad. During the state visit of America in June 2023, PM Modi took the initiative to hand over the ancient heritage related to India’s heritage and culture. Under this, America returned 105 antiquities smuggled to the Indian Consulate in New York. It includes many rare artifacts from second-third to 18th and 19th centuries.

On this cooperation of Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Trafficking Unit and Homeland Security Investigation Team, India’s Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that ‘for the people of India, these are not just pieces of art, but part of their living heritage and culture. These antiquities will soon be taken to India. The repatriation ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Homeland Security Investigation Team.

105 smuggled antiquities were returned by the US through a ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York.

Cultural Property Agreement between India and America
In fact, during the state visit of PM Modi recently, India and America have agreed to work for a cultural property agreement, which will help in preventing illegal smuggling of ancient artefacts. Such an understanding will add further value to the dynamic bilateral cooperation between the internal security and law enforcement agencies of the two countries.

Many artifacts are related to second-third century
These 105 artifacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India. These include 47 from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, 6 from Northern India, 3 from Western India spanning the period from 2nd-3rd century AD to 18th-19th century AD, Artefacts made of terracotta, stone, Made of metal and wood. About 50 artworks on religious themes [हिंदू धर्म, जैन धर्म और इस्लाम] and the rest are of cultural importance.

US handed over 278 cultural artifacts to India since 2016
At the same time, the Government of India is also making concerted efforts to bring back the Indian antiquities, living symbols of rich Indian heritage and culture, stolen from abroad. In recent years, there has been close cooperation between India and the US on the return of antiquities. During Prime Minister Modi’s 2016 visit to the US, the US side had handed over 16 antiques. Similarly, in 2021, the government of the United States of America handed over 157 artifacts that returned to India after the PM’s visit to the US in September 2021. With these 105 antiquities, the US side has handed over a total of 278 cultural artifacts to India since 2016.

.

Tags: Narendra modi, New york news, World news