Australia to return three artefacts to India in January

NEW DELHI: The Australian government will return three culturally significant artefacts to India during PM Scott Morrison’s visit to the country in January, with officials saying the items were bought from New York-based art dealer, Subhash Kapoor.

The artefacts were purchased in good faith from Kapoor, who is under investigation in India and the US, by the National Gallery of Australia. The gallery’s extensive research led to the decision to voluntarily return the artefacts to India, the Australian PM Office announced on Wednesday.

The artefacts are all stone sculptures: a pair of door guardians (dvarapala) from Tamil Nadu; and a serpent king (Nagaraja) from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh.

“Like India, we understand the value of our ancient cultures and artefacts,” said Morrison, who will visit India at the invitation of PM Narendra Modi and deliver the inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. “The return of these artefacts is the right thing to do...,” he said.

India and Australia are party to the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transport of Ownership of Cultural Property.

The Australian government doesn’t have any role in the proceedings against Kapoor.

National Gallery of Australia director, Nick Mitzevich, said, “... We now know enough about these works and want to see them returned to their rightful owners... We take these matters very seriously.” Australia’s foreign minister, Marise Payne, said, “The return of these artefacts also underscores the world’s debt to India’s magnificent culture, history and legacy.” HTC