Sat Nov 30 06:03:59 UTC 2024: **India Seeks Return of 11th-Century Chola Charter from Netherlands**
**Chennai, November 30, 2024** – The Indian government is actively working to repatriate an 11th-century charter of King Rajendra Chola I from Leiden University in the Netherlands. The charter, inscribed on 21 copper plates bound by a bronze ring bearing the king’s seal, was raised in the Rajya Sabha by DMK MP N.R. Elango.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat confirmed that bilateral talks are underway with the Netherlands to secure the charter’s return. The matter has also been raised with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property.
The charter, which contains inscriptions in both Sanskrit and Tamil, details the Chola king’s reign (985-1012 AD) and includes accounts of interactions with the Malay Buddhist King of Srivijaya. Notably, it describes the king’s permission for the construction of a Buddhist sanctuary in Nagapattinam and subsequent donations towards the shrine’s development.
While the charter’s presence in the Netherlands dates back to the 18th century, its journey involved private ownership before ultimately becoming part of Leiden University’s library. Mr. Elango also appealed for the return of 8th-century Velvikudi copper plates from the British Museum, a request currently unaddressed by the government. The significance of the charter for the study of Tamil history underscores the importance of its return to India.
First Piper 