Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's ambassador to the US attends ceremony
International Yoga Day this year, was a historic one. Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the day at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It was a part of the 4-day visit of PM Modi to the United States. Days after the visit, the United States decided to return 105 antiquities, spanning a period from the 2nd-3rd Century CE to the 18th-19th Century CE to India.
At a special repatriation ceremony attended by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s ambassador to the US, Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, and representatives of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the US handed over some of the priceless Indian artifacts
Emotional moment for India
Addressing the ceremony, Sandhu said the 100 antiquities being repatriated to India are “not just art but part of our heritage, culture, and religion.” When this lost legacy returns home, according to Sandhu, it is met with a great deal of emotion. Soon, the artifacts will be shipped to India.
Also Read: PM Modi’s US Visit To Strengthen Commitment For Free Indo-Pacific: White House
The 105 antiquities are INDIAN
According to a press statement, there are 105 artifacts in all, with 47 coming from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, 6 from Northern India, and 3 from Western India. “Spanning a period from 2nd-3rd Century CE to 18th-19th Century CE, the artifacts are made of terracotta, stone, metal, and wood. Around 50 artifacts relate to religious subjects [Hinduism, Jainism, and Islam] and the rest are of cultural significance,” it said.
Prime Minister Modi thanked President Joe Biden for assisting in the return of these cultural artifacts during his state visit to the US last month. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, Homeland Security authorities, and other organizations received praise from Sandhu for their dedication and efforts in assisting in the return of numerous contaminated artifacts to India.
“To prevent illegal trade of cultural property, India and the US have agreed to work towards a Cultural Property Agreement. This will further strengthen the collaboration between our agencies and it will make it harder for the smugglers to evade laws.”
Sandhu added that the return of cultural heritage is a clear expression of goodwill of our friends and partners in the US.
