Last month, the UK returned to India a 12th-century statue stolen from the ASI Museum in Nalanda in 1961. However, they are yet to return the many treasures these colonials robbed from India… and most importantly Kohinoor.
In obscurity for almost 57 years, India recently received stolen 12th century Buddha statues from the UK. The statue had vanished into thin air from the Archaeological Survey of India Museum in Nalanda Bihar in 1961. Recently, the statue re-emerged at an auction in London.
A 12th century Buddha statue stolen from India 57 years ago is to be returned to the Indian High Commissioner by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The statue with silver inlay, is one of 14 statues stolen in 1961. https://t.co/jLwUU3x6z7 pic.twitter.com/emRNTzGKi9
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 14, 2018
But some art enthusiasts spotted the statue at an auction by a London based dealer. Consequently, the London Metropolitan Police intervened and handed over the artefact to the Indian High Commission a month ago. The statue was among a total bounty of 19 bronze idols stolen in 1961.
Today Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman handed over the Bronze Idol of ‘Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra’ to MoS for Culture & Tourism (IC) Shri @prahladspatel. The Idol was stolen on 22nd August, 1961 from Nalanda Museum of ASI and had resurfaced at a trade fair in Britain. pic.twitter.com/EXsAROFGLz
— Archaeological Survey of India (@ASIGoI) September 17, 2019
Although this calls for appreciation for London Met which came into action after the Indian High Commission reached out with proof of the 1961 theft, there is still a lot of apparent bounty belonging to and part of the Indian heritage which still remains in the British coffers.
There’s more than the Buddha statue that needs to be returned – Kohinoor
The British ruled India for over 200 years and took away incomprehensible sums of wealth – from Gold and Diamonds to precious artefacts. This also includes the famed Kohinoor diamond which was one the heritage of the Mughal rulers of India before consequently becoming the crown jewel of the English queen.
Although British left India seventy years ago in 1947, the colonial power ensured that nothing that came out for India was positive.
The British divided India into two, which sparked a bloodbath and hatred between fellow citizens, which still abound and is the reason for tensions between two nuclear powers to this day.
Moreover, they took away India’s riches, wealth accumulated by kings and emperors over centuries and left India a country of rags. India was called ‘The Golden Bird’ before the British plundered and left the country famishes, poor and broken. While a single gesture to return a single bronze statue is commendable, a bigger courtesy still remains.
Hello Britain, when do we get back Kohinoor?
