Mon Sep 23 22:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Stolen Indian Artifacts Return Home After Centuries
**Wilmington, Delaware** – In a symbolic act of cultural repatriation, 297 ancient Indian artifacts, stolen centuries ago, were returned to their country of origin this past Saturday. The handover took place during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware.
The artifacts, dating back from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE, include terra-cotta sculptures, vases, stone, metal, wood, and ivory pieces originating from various regions of India. The US government facilitated the repatriation, with Prime Minister Modi expressing gratitude for their support.
“These objects were not just part of India’s historical material culture but formed the inner core of its civilization and consciousness,” Modi said.
The handover was marked by a display of select artifacts, including a bronze statue of Jain Tirthankar from Central India and a sandstone sculpture of Apsara, a celestial being.
The repatriation follows a historic cultural property agreement signed by the US and India in July 2024, aimed at combating artifact trafficking between the two countries. This agreement is expected to streamline the return of illegally traded relics.
Since 2016, India has recovered over 578 ancient artifacts from the United States alone. A significant portion of these, valued at $4 million, were seized from disgraced New York art dealer Subhash Kapoor, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in India following a 15-year investigation for illegally exporting antiquities from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The return of these artifacts marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to recover stolen cultural heritage and ensure its preservation in its rightful home.
First Piper 