Prime Minister Modi and President Biden Celebrate Return of 297 Stolen Antiquities to India
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, 297 stolen antiquities were returned to India, marking a significant step in the shared commitment between the two nations to protect cultural heritage.
US Ambassador Eric Garcetti’s Statement
US Ambassador Eric Garcetti described the return of the antiquities as another example of the US-India commitment to preserving cultural heritage. He highlighted that this action follows the signing of the ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ in July, aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural patrimony.
Prime Minister Modi’s Gratitude
Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to the US government and President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of these invaluable items. He emphasized the importance of deepening cultural connections and fighting against the illicit trafficking of cultural properties.
Details of Returned Antiquities
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri provided details about the returned items, which include:
- A terracotta vase from Eastern India
- A Buddha sculpture made of sandstone from Uttar Pradesh
- A Vishnu idol made of bronze from Eastern India
- An anthropomorphic figure made of copper from North India
- A Jain Tirthankara idol made of bronze from South India
- An apsara sculpture made of sandstone from Central India
- A stone sculpture made of limestone from South India
- A terracotta conical vase from Eastern India
- A terracotta rattle from Eastern India
- 178 terracotta figures from Eastern India
- 47 antiquities from North India
- Sculptures from Jammu and Kashmir
PM Modi’s Address and Meetings
PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, where he spoke about India-US relations, India’s global stature, and economic growth. He also met with CEOs of leading US-based companies to discuss collaborations in AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
PM Modi’s US Visit
PM Modi’s visit included participation in the Quad Summit and bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He will also address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Doubts Revealed
Prime Minister Modi -: Prime Minister Modi is the leader of India. He makes important decisions for the country.
President Biden -: President Biden is the leader of the United States. He makes important decisions for his country.
Antiquities -: Antiquities are old and valuable objects, like sculptures and artifacts, that are important to a country’s history and culture.
US Ambassador Eric Garcetti -: Eric Garcetti is a representative of the United States who works in India to help maintain good relations between the two countries.
Cultural Property Agreement -: The Cultural Property Agreement is a deal between two countries to protect and return important cultural items that were taken illegally.
Indian diaspora -: The Indian diaspora refers to people from India who live in other countries, like the United States.
US business leaders -: US business leaders are important people who run big companies in the United States. They help make decisions about business and trade.
