US to Return 297 Indian Antiquities: A Milestone in Cultural Heritage Preservation
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Another example of shared commitment to preserve cultural heritage: US envoy Eric Garcetti on return of antiquities to India
Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, the US has formally handed over 297 antiquities that were stolen or trafficked from India. "It's heartening to witness yet another example of U.S.-India shared commitment to protecting and preserving cultural heritage," Garcetti said in a post on X on Monday. He further termed it another "tangible step" to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony after the signing of the 'Cultural Property Agreement' between India and the US in July last. "The return of these 297 antiquities marks another tangible step forward following the July signing of the first ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' between the U.S. and India, aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony. #USIndiaFWD," he added. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the US government and US President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted strengthening fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties 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. @POTUS @JoeBiden." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier said that 297 antiquities were returned back to India on the sidelines of PM Modi's visit and added, "Here we were not just talking about not just Vikas but also Virasat." Some of the returned antiquities include terracotta vase from Eastern India, Buddha sculpture made of sandstone from UP, Vishnu idol made of bronze from Eastern India, an anthropomorphic figure made of copper from North India, Jain Tirthankara idol made of bronze from South India, apsara sculpture made of sandstone from Central India, stone sculpture made of lime stone from South India, a terracotta conical vase from Eastern India, a terracotta rattle from Eastern India, around 178 terracotta figures from Eastern India, around 47 antiquities from North India and sculptures from Jammu and Kashmir among others. PM Modi earlier on Sunday (local time) in New York addressed the "Modi and US" program at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, with 15,000 members of the Indian diaspora gathering from 42 different states to welcome the Prime Minister. During his address, PM Modi touched upon various facets of India-US relations, people-to-people ties, and India's rising global stature and economic growth. In his initial remarks, lauding the contributions of the Indian diaspora, PM Modi said that Indians contribute to do the most no matter where they are. In his over one-hour-long speech, he also apprised the gathering of how India has become a key player in mobile manufacturing-from being an importer to an exporter, digital public infrastructure adoption. He added that the day is not far when Made in India chips will be available in America. Later on Sunday (local time), Prime Minister Modi interacted with the CEOs of leading US-based companies to foster greater collaborations between the two countries in the cutting-edge areas of AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology, among others. PM Modi arrived in New York in the second leg of his three-day visit to the United States. On Saturday, PM Modi took part in the Quad Summit and held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He will also address the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York today. (ANI)
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Another example of shared commitment to preserve cultural heritage: US envoy Eric Garcetti on return of antiquities to India
New York: US Ambassador Eric Garcetti on Monday termed the return of 297 antiquities to India as another example of the "shared commitment" between the two countries to "protect and preserve" the cultural heritage. Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, the US has formally handed over 297 antiquities that were stolen or trafficked from India. "It's heartening to witness yet another example of U.S.-India shared commitment to protecting and preserving cultural heritage," Garcetti said in a post on X on Monday. He further termed it another "tangible step" to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony after the signing of the 'Cultural Property Agreement' between India and the US in July last. "The return of these 297 antiquities marks another tangible step forward following the July signing of the first ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' between the U.S. and India, aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony. #USIndiaFWD," he added. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the US government and US President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted strengthening fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties 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. @POTUS @JoeBiden." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier said that 297 antiquities were returned back to India on the sidelines of PM Modi's visit and added, "Here we were not just talking about not just Vikas but also Virasat." Some of the returned antiquities include terracotta vase from Eastern India, Buddha sculpture made of sandstone from UP, Vishnu idol made of bronze from Eastern India, an anthropomorphic figure made of copper from North India, Jain Tirthankara idol made of bronze from South India, apsara sculpture made of sandstone from Central India, stone sculpture made of lime stone from South India, a terracotta conical vase from Eastern India, a terracotta rattle from Eastern India, around 178 terracotta figures from Eastern India, around 47 antiquities from North India and sculptures from Jammu and Kashmir among others. PM Modi earlier on Sunday (local time) in New York addressed the "Modi and US" program at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, with 15,000 members of the Indian diaspora gathering from 42 different states to welcome the Prime Minister. During his address, PM Modi touched upon various facets of India-US relations, people-to-people ties, and India's rising global stature and economic growth. In his initial remarks, lauding the contributions of the Indian diaspora, PM Modi said that Indians contribute to do the most no matter where they are. In his over one-hour-long speech, he also apprised the gathering of how India has become a key player in mobile manufacturing--from being an importer to an exporter, digital public infrastructure adoption. He added that the day is not far when Made in India chips will be available in America. Later on Sunday (local time), Prime Minister Modi interacted with the CEOs of leading US-based companies to foster greater collaborations between the two countries in the cutting-edge areas of AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology, among others. PM Modi arrived in New York in the second leg of his three-day visit to the United States. On Saturday, PM Modi took part in the Quad Summit and held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He will also address the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York today.
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US to return 297 Indian antiquities following Modi's visit
"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," Prime Minister Modi posted on X. In July, India and the US signed their first agreement to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and return of antiquarian objects to their place of origin. "Preserving heritage and culture: restituting antiquities. The US side has facilitated the return of 297 stolen or trafficked antiquities during the visit of PM @narendramodi to US," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. "PM @narendramodi and @POTUS @JoeBiden witnessed a few antiquities on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting as a symbolic handing over of the artefacts. India and USA recently signed the first ever Cultural Property Agreement to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and retrieval of antiquities," Jaiswal posted. After wrapping up the Quad Leaders' meeting in Wilmington, Modi has left for New York to address a key conclave at the United Nations. In New York, Modi will attend an Indian community event at Long Island on September 22 and address the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly the next day. The prime minister's other engagements include participating in a round table with CEOs of American firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. PTI AMS
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The United States is set to return 297 Indian antiquities following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, hails this as a shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
US-India Collaboration on Cultural Heritage
In a significant move towards preserving cultural heritage, the United States has announced the return of 297 Indian antiquities following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the country. This development marks another milestone in the ongoing efforts to repatriate cultural artifacts to their countries of origin
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.Ambassador Garcetti's Statement
US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, expressed his enthusiasm about this initiative, describing it as "another example of our shared commitment to preserve cultural heritage"
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. Garcetti's statement underscores the diplomatic significance of this cultural exchange and the strengthening ties between the two nations.The Antiquities in Question
The antiquities set to be returned span a wide range of historical periods and cultural significance. While specific details about each artifact are not provided, the sheer number – 297 items – indicates the scale and importance of this repatriation effort
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.Modi's US Visit and Cultural Diplomacy
This announcement comes in the wake of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States, suggesting that cultural heritage preservation was a key topic of discussion during diplomatic talks. The timing of this decision highlights the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening international relations
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.Global Efforts in Artifact Repatriation
The return of these antiquities to India is part of a broader global trend of countries working to reclaim their cultural heritage. Many nations are increasingly focusing on the repatriation of artifacts that were removed during colonial periods or through illicit means
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Impact on Indian Cultural Preservation
For India, the return of these 297 antiquities represents a significant boost to its efforts in preserving and showcasing its rich cultural heritage. These artifacts are likely to find their way into museums and cultural institutions across the country, allowing Indian citizens and international visitors alike to appreciate and learn from these historical treasures
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.Future Implications
This move sets a positive precedent for future collaborations between India and the United States in the realm of cultural heritage preservation. It may pave the way for more such repatriations and joint efforts in protecting and studying historical artifacts, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of India's cultural legacy on the global stage.
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