Govt committed to reclaiming cultural heritage under PM Modi, says Culture Minister

Return of Sacred Bronzes from US Restores India’s Civilisational Memory: Shekhawat
New Delhi:- Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the return of sacred antiquities from the United States marks the restoration of India’s civilisational memory and reflects the Government’s commitment to reclaiming and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.Addressing a press conference at the National Museum, Janpath, the Minister termed the repatriation of three historic bronzes from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art as a “significant milestone” in India’s efforts to bring back stolen cultural treasures and strengthen ethical museum practices globally.Three temple bronzes traced to Tamil Nadu
The repatriated bronzes include a Chola-period Shiva Nataraja dating to circa 990 CE, a 12th-century Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma), and a 16th-century Vijayanagara-period sculpture of Saint Sundarar with Paravai. The sacred temple bronzes, originally from Tamil Nadu, were illicitly removed from India in the mid-20th century.The Minister said antiquities are not merely artistic objects but embodiments of India’s spiritual traditions, historical continuity and civilisational memory. He noted that illicit trafficking had deprived India of several invaluable cultural treasures over decades.ASI’s provenance research key to recovery

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), through extensive provenance research using archival records, field documentation and temple photographs from the 1950s and 1960s, traced the artefacts to their original sites. The findings enabled coordinated negotiations involving the Ministry of Culture, the Smithsonian Institution and the Embassy of India in the US.Details of repatriated antiquities:  Shiva Nataraja (Chola period, c. 990 CE): Originally from Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple, Thanjavur district, photographed there in 1957.  Saint Sundarar with Paravai (16th century, Vijayanagara): Photographed in 1956 at the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Tamil Nadu.  Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma) (12th century, Chola): Photographed in 1959 at the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Tamil Nadu.  The Somaskanda and Saint Sundarar with Paravai bronzes arrived in New Delhi on 12 May 2026. The Shiva Nataraja will be repatriated after its scheduled display in the exhibition “The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.”As a goodwill gesture, India has agreed to a three-year loan arrangement for the Shiva Nataraja from 2025 to 2028, allowing global audiences to understand its journey from origin to repatriation.666 antiquities repatriated since 2014
Shri Shekhawat said India has repatriated 666 antiquities from various countries, including 653 since 2014, through diplomatic, legal and institutional efforts by the Ministry of Culture, ASI, Indian Missions abroad and enforcement agencies.He added that 657 art objects of Indian origin were recently handed over by US law enforcement agencies to the Embassy of India in the US. Arrangements are underway for their transport and ASI verification.The press interaction was attended by Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and senior officials from the National Museum, ASI, Ministry of Culture, along with distinguished guests and media.The event reaffirmed India’s resolve to restore its stolen cultural heritage through international cooperation, ethical stewardship and institutional commitment.