The Archaeological Survey of India is constantly making its best efforts to retrieve the antiquities which have been taken away from the country in violation of the Antiquates and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
The Archaeological Survey of India constantly making its best efforts through Indian Missions abroad for retrieval of illegally exported antiquities. Efforts are made to retrieve such antiquities as and when they surface in foreign countries.
The details of the antiquities retrieved from foreign countries from 2015-2017 and current year up to December, 2018 is given below
Retrieved Indian Antiquities from Abroad from 2015 to 2018
S.No. | Name | State | From | Year | Mode of retrieval | Under the custody |
1. | Parrot Lady | Madhya Pradesh | Canada | 2015 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
2. | Durga (Mahishmardini) | J&K | Germany | 2015 | Voluntarily returned | SPS Museum Sri Nagar, J&K |
3. | Uma Parameshwari | Tamil Nadu | Singapore | 2015 | Voluntarily returned | Under the custody of Idol Wing Tamil Nadu |
4. | Bronze image of Saint Manikkavachaka | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | Under the custody of Idol Wing Tamil Nadu |
5. | Metal image of Ganesha | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | Under the custody of Idol Wing Tamil Nadu |
6. | Terracotta Female Figure (Honolulu Museum) | Mauryan period Central India | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
7. | Male Deity (Honolulu Museum) | Madhya Pradesh | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
8. | Floral Tile, Harvan | Kashmir | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
9. | Sri Devi, Chola Period | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
10. | Metal image of Bahubali | Andhra Pradesh | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | PMO |
11. | Metal image of Parvati | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
12. | Terracotta Plaque | West Bengal | USA | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
13. | Metal image of Bhoodevi | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | Idol Wing Tamil Nadu |
14. | Metal image of Chakkarathalwar | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | Idol Wing Tamil Nadu |
15. | Seated Buddha | Mathura region, Uttar Pradesh | Australia | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | National Muséum New Delhi |
16. | Panel of Devotees of Buddha | Andhra Pradesh | Australia | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | National Museum New Delhi |
17. | Stone image Pratyangira | Tamil Nadu | Australia | 2016 | Voluntarily returned | Under the custody of Idol Wing Tamil Nadu |
18. | Sand Stone Male Figure in Tribhanga Posture | Central India | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
19. | Sand Stone Bust of a Female | Central India | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
20. | Sand Stone broken Figure | Central India | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
21. | Stone image of Durga | Tamil Nadu | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
22. | Damaged Sand Stone image of Nataraja in dancing posture. | Central India | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
23. | Mutilated Sand Stone Panel depicting two male Figures (vidhyadharas). | Central India | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
24. | Stone image of a couple | Rajasthan | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
(mithuna) figure carved under a niche from Atru, Rajasthan. | ||||||
25. | Stone image of a couple | Rajasthan | U.S.A. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
(mithuna) Figure from Atru, Rajasthan. | ||||||
26. | Stone sculpture of Brahma and Brahamani | Gujarat | U.K. | 2017 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
27. | Durga Mahishasurmardini | Uttarakhand | USA MET Museum | 2018 | Voluntarily returned | CAC Section, Purana Qila, N. Delhi |
28. | Bodhisattva Head | Andhra Pradesh | USA MET Museum | 2018 | Voluntarily returned | Nagarjunakonda Museum, Andhra Pradesh |
The above information was given by Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate change Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in reply to an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha today.