Smithsonian Museum to Return Stolen Ancient Statues to India

Return of Stolen Artifacts

The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in the United States is set to return three ancient statues that were stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu, India. This decision follows research confirming the artifacts' illicit origins from Indian temples.

Namgya Khampa, the Deputy Chief of the Indian Embassy in the U.S., signed an agreement with Chess Robinson, the director of the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA), for the return of a 9th-century bronze statue of Shiva Nataraja, a 12th-century statue of Shiva and Uma, and a 16th-century depiction of Saint Sundarar with Parvati.

The Indian Embassy in the U.S. announced on social media platform X that three invaluable ancient items are being sent back to India: the 9th-century Shiva Nataraja bronze statue, the 12th-century statue of Shiva and Uma, and the 16th-century representation of Saint Sundarar with Parvati.

The museum discovered through research that these artifacts were illegally removed from India. The statue of 'Shiva and Uma,' also known as 'Somasakanda,' and the statue of 'Saint Sundarar with Parvati' were part of a collection donated to the museum by Arthur M. Sackler in 1987.