Another example of shared commitment to preserve cultural heritage: US envoy Eric Garcetti on return of antiquities to India

New York, September 23: US Ambassador Eric Garcetti on Monday termed the return of 297 antiquities to India as another example of the “shared commitment” between the two countries to “protect and preserve” the cultural heritage.

Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the US has formally handed over 297 antiquities that were stolen or trafficked from India.

“It’s heartening to witness yet another example of U.S.-India shared commitment to protecting and preserving cultural heritage,” Garcetti said in a post on X on Monday.
He further termed it another “tangible step” to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony after the signing of the ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ between India and the US in July last.

“The return of these 297 antiquities marks another tangible step forward following the July signing of the first ever ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ between the U.S. and India, aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony. #USIndiaFWD,” he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the US government and US President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India.

In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted strengthening fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties and said, “Deepening cultural connect and strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties. I am extremely grateful to President Biden and the US Government for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. @POTUS @JoeBiden.”

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier said that 297 antiquities were returned back to India on the sidelines of PM Modi’s visit and added, “Here we were not just talking about not just Vikas but also Virasat.”

Some of the returned antiquities include terracotta vase from Eastern India, Buddha sculpture made of sandstone from UP, Vishnu idol made of bronze from Eastern India, an anthropomorphic figure made of copper from North India, Jain Tirthankara idol made of bronze from South India, apsara sculpture made of sandstone from Central India, stone sculpture made of lime stone from South India, a terracotta conical vase from Eastern India, a terracotta rattle from Eastern India, around 178 terracotta figures from Eastern India, around 47 antiquities from North India and sculptures from Jammu and Kashmir among others.