PM Modi concludes US visit; brings home 157 artefacts, antiquities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for India after concluding his go to to the US throughout which the prime minister mentioned he had productive bilateral and multilateral engagements and expressed confidence that the India-US relationship will develop even stronger within the years to come back. Throughout his three-day go to, Prime Minister Modi addressed the 76th session of the United Nations Safety Council, attended the primary in-person Quad summit and held bilateral and multilateral engagements, together with with US President Biden, US Vice President Harris and his counterparts from Australia Scott Morrison and from Japan Yoshihide Suga.

PM Narendra Modi additionally introduced house 157 artefacts and antiquities, which had been handed over to India by the US throughout his go to, with each he and President Joe Biden expressing dedication to strengthening efforts to fight theft, illicit commerce and trafficking of cultural objects. 

Whereas almost half of the artefacts (71) are cultural, the opposite half consists of collectible figurines associated to Hinduism (60), Buddhism (16) and Jainism (9), an official assertion mentioned on Saturday.

Modi conveyed his deep appreciation for the repatriation of antiquities to India by the US.

The listing of 157 artefacts features a numerous set of things starting from the one-and-a-half metre bas reduction panel of Revanta in sandstone of the tenth CE to the 8.5 cm tall, beautiful bronze Nataraja from the twelfth CE.

This continues the efforts by the Modi authorities to carry again India’s antiquities and artefacts from the world over, it mentioned.

Authorities sources mentioned that solely 13 antiquities had been retrieved by India from totally different international locations between 1976 and 2013.

Nonetheless, between 2014, when Modi got here to energy, and 2021, over 200 antiquities have both returned or are within the means of being returned, they added.

Between 2004 and 2014, just one historical antiquity returned to India, the sources mentioned.

The Modi authorities has introduced again extra historical Indian treasures than the 4 many years earlier than it, they claimed.

Referring to the gadgets handed over to India by the US throughout Modi’s ongoing journey, the official assertion mentioned they largely belong to the interval of eleventh CE to 14th CE in addition to historic antiquities such because the copper anthropomorphic object of 2000 BC or the terracotta vase from the 2nd CE. Some 45 antiquities belong to Earlier than Frequent Period, it mentioned.

Their make spreads throughout metallic, stone and terracotta, the assertion mentioned.

The bronze assortment primarily incorporates ornate collectible figurines of the well-known postures of Lakshmi Narayana, Buddha, Vishnu, Siva Parvathi and the 24 Jain Tirthankaras and the much less widespread Kankalamurti, Brahmi and Nandikesa moreover different unnamed deities and divine figures.

The assertion famous that the motifs embody non secular sculptures from Hinduism– three-headed Brahma, chariot driving Surya, Vishnu and his consorts, Siva as Dakshinamurti and dancing Ganesha amongst others, Buddhism– standing Buddha, Boddhisattva Majushri, Tara, and Jainism– Jain Tirthankara, Padmasana Tirthankara, Jaina Choubisi, in addition to secular motifs, together with amorphous couple in Samabhanga and chowri-bearer feminine taking part in the drum amongst others.

There are 56 terracotta items and an 18th CE sword with a sheath with an inscription mentioning Guru Hargovind Singh in Persian, it added.

(With inputs from PTI)

Additionally Learn | ‘I symbolize a rustic that’s proud to be often known as mom of democracy’: PM Modi at UNGA

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