India Recovers Ancient Statues Seized in Britain

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LONDON, Dec 14 (IANS) An illegal shipment of six ancient religious

statues seized by customs officers at the Heathrow airport last year

were handed over to Indian High Commissioner Kamalesh Sharma here

Thursday.

 

The antique statues, of Bihar origin, were handed over by John Healey,

financial secretary to the treasury. Sharma and director of the Nehru

Centre, Monika Kapil Mohta, received them on behalf of the

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

 

The statues were with the British Museum for safekeeping after they

were confiscated in August 2005. Ancient Indian statues command a high

price in the western antiques market.

 

Experts at the British Museum have confirmed that the statues, which

depict both Hindu and Buddhist deities, date back to between the 7th

and 11th centuries AD.

 

Healey said: "I am pleased to announce the return of these historical

statues to the Indian people. The government fully recognises the

importance of historical artefacts to our shared cultural heritage and

takes its role in enforcing international agreements and prohibitions

designed to preserve our historic environment very seriously.

 

"The international trade in illicit cultural artefacts is a

significant problem, and is increasingly being linked to other forms

of organised crime. Where ancient sites are plundered for short-term

gain, this results both in the loss of heritage items to indigenous

peoples, and irreparable damage to archaeological sites."

 

The statues are estimated to be worth 3,000-5,000 pounds each and

include a seventh century AD figure of a mother goddess, possibly

Indrani; two tenth century figures of Buddha; a tenth century figure

of a Hindu goddess, probably Durga; an eleventh century figure of

Agni; and an eleventh century standing figure of a temple-goer.

 

Michael Willis, curator of the 'ancient Indian and Himalayan

collections', said: "The British Museum has worked with HM Revenue and

Customs for over 35 years on investigations into illegally imported

antiquities. This is a vital relationship in the fight against the

illicit trade in antiquities."

 

The statues, which weighed 172 kg and were seized on Aug 14, 2005,

were initially detained on suspicion that they were smuggled

antiquities. Once confirmed as such, they were officially seized and

left at the British Museum on deposit.

 

The Nehru Centre, the cultural wing of the Indian High Commission in

London, will send the statues to India.

 

SOURCE: Telugu Portal. IANS story by Prasun Sonwalkar

URL: http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=25130