Return of India's Lost Treasures: Government Reclaims Antiquities Overseas

Over the past five years, India has successfully retrieved 610 antiquities from six countries, including the US and the UK. The government, through a written statement by Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, detailed the efforts and ongoing challenges in reclaiming stolen Indian artefacts, monitored by the Archaeological Survey of India.

India has reclaimed 610 antiquities over the last five years from countries such as the US and the UK, according to a disclosure made to Parliament. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided this information while responding to a question on artefact theft and recovery procedures.

The Archaeological Survey of India plays a pivotal role in maintaining records of thefts from protected monuments, sites, and museums. Statistics reveal substantial efforts, including retrieving three artefacts from Australia and five from the UK in 2020, 157 from the US in 2021, and further numbers from other nations in subsequent years.

In total, 655 antiquities have been recovered from abroad since 1976, marking a continued commitment to reclaim Indian heritage from overseas. The government remains vigilant in its pursuit to recover these cultural treasures.