- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Keerthi Mohan
by AMIT ROY
TWO stolen art treasures, which were handed over last week to Ruchi Ghanashyam, the Indian high commissioner in London, will be sent back to India.
A limestone relief, originating from Andhra Pradesh and estimated to be about 2,000 years old; and a 300-year-old Navaneetha Krishna bronze figure from Tamil Nadu, were handed over jointly by America’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – which has a cultural property, art and antiquities programme to deal with stolen or looted treasures – and
the UK’s Metropolitan Police.
The handover ceremony took place last Thursday (15) in the Gandhi Hall at India House on the occasion of the country’s 73rd Independence Day, with the Ghanashyam unveiling the treasures after the traditional flag-hoisting.
She described the return of the artefacts to India as “a warm and friendly gesture” by the UK and US agencies and commented: “We cannot put a monetary value on these artefacts – these items are indeed priceless.”
She thanked the agencies and the department for digital, culture, media and sport for their “excellent work” and added: “We hope we will be able to get many more pieces of invaluable Indian cultural heritage back.”
The two items appear to be linked to the New York art dealer Subhash Kapoor. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has filed criminal charges against him and seven co-conspirators. They have been charged with operating a $145 million (£120m) smuggling ring that dealt with thousands of looted antiquities over a period of 30 years.
The items were in the possession of a UK collector who contacted the US embassy in London on realising the provenance of the two items.
American officers, who had flown to London, gave a brief outline of the case. So did a senior officer from Scotland Yard’s art and antiques unit, who said the trade in stolen cultural objects is highly profitable and that the criminals involved “are not bound by national boundaries”.
He added: “The artefacts being returned are more than pieces of stone and bronze. They are religious objects with deep significance to the people from whom they are stolen. I would like to appeal to people who have information about cultural heritage to come forward and speak to police.”
A statement from the HSI appeared to refer to Subhash Kapoor: “The two artefacts from India are linked to one of the most prolific art smugglers in the world, who was recently charged in Manhattan.
“An individual in the United Kingdom who possessed the items came forward to Homeland Security Investigations expressing a desire to surrender the pieces. In June 2019, working with the Metropolitan Police, the individual cooperated and turned over the artefacts to authorities.
“The repatriated artefacts are just two of more than 2,600 antiquities that have been recovered around the world.”
The statement included a comment from Peter Fitzhugh, special agent in charge of HSI New York: “The cultural significance of artefacts looted from regions around the world extends beyond a monetary value. The pieces, like those recovered through this operation, are stolen fragments of history; and it is an honour to return them to their rightful home country.
“HSI recognises the importance of both international and local partnerships in locating pilfered antiquities and cultural property, and it is through these repatriations that new generations are able to experience a part of their nation’s story.”
India has been especially vulnerable to the looting of its cultural heritage.
In America, the cultural property, art and antiquities programme is said to be “unique to Homeland Security Investigation’s portfolio”. The department said: “Returning a nation’s looted cultural heritage or stolen artwork promotes goodwill with foreign governments and citizens, while protecting the world’s cultural heritage and knowledge of past civilisations.
“The theft and trafficking of cultural heritage and art is a tradition as old as the cultures they represent. What has changed is the ability of cultural pirates to acquire, transport and sell valuable cultural property and art swiftly, easily and stealthily.
“These criminals operate on a global scale without regard for laws, borders, nationalities or the significance of the treasures they smuggle.”
