Glasgow Life, a charity managing the city’s museum collections, has become the first in the UK to return stolen artifacts to India.
The charity is returning seven Indian antiquities following a transfer of ownership ceremony at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
These include a 14th century ceremonial Indo-Persian tulwar (sword) and an 11th century carved stone door jamb taken from a Hindu temple in Kanpur.
“The transfer of ownership of the Indian antiquities symbolises a significant step for Glasgow, with the city continuing its positive repatriation history by ensuring these cultural artefacts are placed back in the hands of their legitimate owners,” said Duncan Dornan, head of museums and collections at Glasgow Life.
Charity returning seven Indian antiquities
“We look forward to continuing our work with the Indian authorities to deliver the safe return of these artefacts.”
Six of the seven objects were removed from temples and shrines across North India in the 19th century, and the seventh was purchased after it was stolen from the owner. All of the objects were gifted to Glasgow’s collections.
“The repatriation of these objects is of great historical and cultural importance to both Glasgow and India, so it’s a privilege to welcome Indian dignitaries to our city for such a momentous occasion,” said Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life.
She said the agreement is “another example of Glasgow’s commitment to addressing past wrongs and remaining transparent when explaining how objects arrived in the city’s museum collections”.
“These artefacts are an integral part of our civilisational heritage and will now be sent back home,” said Sujit Ghosh, the Indian acting high commissioner.
“Positive repatriation history”
“We express our appreciation to all the stakeholders who made this possible, especially Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council.”
Glasgow Life is also returning 19 Benin bronzes to Nigeria. These were acquired as gifts after they were taken from sacred sites and ceremonial buildings during the Benin Expedition of 1897.
London’s Horniman Museum and Gardens has agreed to transfer the ownership of its Benin bronzes to Nigeria.
LA’s Getty Museum is set to return a group of Orpheus sculptures to Italy, and the Met in New York has returned two sculptures to the Nepalese government.
Image: Glasgow Life
