The government is bringing home India’s heritage

Subject :History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

The USA government will return over 105 ancient statues and antiquities to India.

Details:

Of these, two 12th-century statues — Lord Shiva’s rare Lingodbhava statue and Bodhisattva Manjushri statue — have already reached India.
So far over 351 ancient artefacts and items of historical importance have been brought back. Contrast this with the 1947-2013 period, when less than 20 ancient statues were brought back.
Recently, the International Museum Expo 2023 was inaugurated in New Delhi.

Stolen artefacts that were brought back to India:

The 18th-century Maa Annapurna statue, which was stolen some 100 years ago from Varanasi and was spotted in Canada and being brought back in 2021.
The 10th-century statue of Natraj was also repatriated from London the same year.
The 900-year-old “Parrot Lady” sculpture from Khajuraho was brought back from Canada.
A 14th-15th Chola period bronze statue of Lord Hanuman was returned by Australia, while a 1,200-year-old Buddha idol, Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, smuggled from DevisthanKundulpur temple in Bihar was repatriated from Italy.
The US returned the 11th-century statue of the poet-saint Manikkavachakar.
The 10th-century statue of Maa Durga’s Mahishasur Avatar is back from Germany, while the rare bronze statue of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita which was stolen in 1978 was retrieved from London.
Also, the ancient Yogini statue which was stolen from Banda in Uttar Pradesh in the 1980s has been brought back from London.
Recently, 29 ancient items of archaeological importance were brought back from Australia.
The statues of Shri Devi from the Chola dynasty and the terracotta statue of a woman from the Maurya period have been returned.
The Australian government returned two rare statues — a 900-year-old statue of Pratyangara stolen from an Amravati temple and a meditating Buddha statue that was smuggled from Mathura.

What are antiquities?

The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, of 1972, defines antiquity as a certain category of objects listed below that has been in existence for not less than one hundred years. They are:
- Any coin, sculpture, painting, epigraph or other work of art or craftsmanship
- Any article, object or thing detached from a building or cave
- Any article, object or thing illustrative of science, art, crafts, literature, religion, customs, morals or politics in bygone ages
- Any article, object or thing of historical interest
For a manuscript, record or other documents of scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value the duration is fixed at not less than 75 years.

International convention:

The UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property defines cultural property as property having importance for archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science for the designated country.
The convention also says that illicit import, export and ownership transfer is depriving the cultural heritage of the country of origin.
The Convention also suggests international cooperation as a means to protect the cultural property of the country.

Indian Laws on Antiquities

The seventh schedule of the Constitution contains the following items related to antiquities:
- Item-67 of the Union List
- Item-12 of the State List
- Item-40 of the Concurrent List
One of the major acts implemented since 1976 was the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, of 1972 (AATA).
Before enacting the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, of 1972, Antiquities (Export Control) Act was passed in 1947 to ensure that antiquities are exported with a license.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act were enacted in 1971.
Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 (AATA) prohibits trade in antiquities without a license and makes it unlawful for persons other than the government to export antiquity or art treasure.
- AATA mandates those who possess antiquity to register and obtain certificates.
There has been registration of 3.52 lakh antiquities among the 16.70 lakh documented under the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities.

Retrieval of Antiquity from Abroad:

For antiquities taken out of the country before independence, the issue needs to be raised bilaterally or in international forums.
Objects taken out of the country after independence can be retrieved easily by raising the issue bilaterally through submitting proof of ownership and using the UNESCO convention.

Why are Ancient Indian sculptures illegally traded?

Indian art, including ancient sculptures, is highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide, leading to a lucrative market for these artefacts.
India has weak laws and regulations when it comes to the protection of its cultural heritage.
India has a long history of looting and plundering by foreign invaders, leading to the loss of many precious artefacts.
In many cases, poverty and lack of resources in rural areas make it easier for smugglers to bribe locals and obtain artefacts.
Corruption sometimes facilitates the illegal trade of artefacts for personal gain.
Lack of awareness
In a globalized world, it is easier for smugglers to transport and sell artefacts across borders, making it more challenging to track and recover stolen or smuggled artefacts.