Lok Sabha Question No. 2118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-08
Subject: Roadmap to Recover Ancient Idols and Other Artifacts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Parvatagouda Chandanagouda Gaddigoudar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2118

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2021

## ROADMAP TO RECOVER ANCIENT IDOLS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS

## 2118  SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH: SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of ancient idols and artifacts stolen from India and taken to various countries abroad as well as returned during the last three years, year-wise and country-wise along with the estimated value of recovered idols;
- (b) whether the Government is in a process of consultation with various countries to recover remaining stolen  idols  and  artifacts  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by  which  all  the  stolen artifacts are likely to be recovered;
- (c) whether the Government is working on a plan to coordinate with the State Governments and come up with a roadmap to recover ancient idols, jewellery and other artifacts reportedly missing from several temples in the States as the national treasures could not be allowed to be looted and smuggled abroad;
- (d) if so, the details thereof during the last five years and current year as on date and steps being taken to locate the temples from where idols, jewels and ancient artifacts were missing and take appropriate action to retrieve them and also for preserving the heritage temples;
- (e) whether some of the temples were found 'missing' and some were in very bad condition and if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor along with the corrective steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM

(PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) The details of stolen ancient idols and artefacts which were returned during the last three years yearwise and country-wise is placed in Annexure I & II respectively. All antiquities are priceless, their valuation is not done.
- (b) Yes Sir, ASI is in touch with various countries like USA, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, Canada, etc. for the retrieval of the antiquities. No time line has been fixed for the same, but this will be done as soon as possible, after following due process. Details are at Annexure III.
- (c) Whenever  ASI  receives  any  theft  case  from  Centrally  Protected  Monuments,  State  Protected

&

Monuments,  or  antiquities  that  were  in  private  ownership;  ASI  issues  a  "Look  Out  Notice"  to  all

- (d) concerned enforcing agencies like CBI, DRI, police, and Customs. For retrieval of antiquities from abroad, ASI is in communication with various foreign countries. During the last five years 35 antiquities have been retrieved from the USA, Australia and UK.
- (e) A list of 'missing' monuments has been attached at Annexure IV. However,  the  conservation  work  of  protected  monuments  of  ASI,  including  temples,  is  attended regularly as per availability of resources due to which they are in a good state of preservation.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2118 FOR 08.03.2021

## ANNEXURE - I

##  Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2017.

| 1.   | Andhra Pradesh   | Theft of a Nandi idol from Sri Anadavalli Ammavaru Temple, Parasurameshwara Swamy Complex, Gudimallam, Chitoor district   | Stone   | 5-10-2017   | F.I.R Lodged   | Not recovered   |
|------|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------------|----------------|-----------------|

-  No theft is reported from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2018 and 2019.
-  Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2020
-  Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 2021.

| 1.   | Karnataka   | Theft of Kalasa fixed to the shikara of Sadashiva Temple, Nuggehalli, Taluk Chennarayapatna, District Hassan, Karnataka   | Copper   | 25-02-2020   | F.I.R Lodged   | Not recovered   |
|------|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|--------------|----------------|-----------------|

| 1.   | Uttarakhand   | Theft of Shiva Linga from Bhairv Temple, Mrityunjay Temple Complex, Dwarahat, Distrit Almora   | stone   | 10.02.2021   | F.I.R Lodged   | Police has caught the thief and the stone Shiva linga has been Recovered.   |
|------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2118 FOR 08.03.2021 ANNEXURE - II

## THE DETAILS OF ANCIENT IDOLS AND ARTEFACTS STOLEN FROM INDIA TO VARIOUS COUNTRIES ABROAD AS WELL AS RETURNED DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS (2018-2021)

|   Sl. No. | Description of object                       | Provenance                           | Country from which retrieved   |   Date/ year of Retrieval |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | Durga Mahishasurmardini                     | Uttarakhand                          | USA MET Museum                 |                      2018 |
|         2 | Bodhisattva Head                            | Andhra Pradesh                       | USA MET Museum                 |                      2018 |
|         3 | Image of Buddha                             | Bihar                                | UK                             |                      2019 |
|         4 | Idol of Bronze Nataraja                     | Tamil Nadu                           | Australia                      |                      2019 |
|         5 | Nagaraja (The serpent King) Stone sculpture | Central India exact state not known. | Australia                      |                      2020 |
|         6 | Dwarpala, stone sculpture                   | Tamil Nadu                           | Australia                      |                      2020 |
|         7 | Dwarpala, stone sculpture                   | Tamil Nadu                           | Australia                      |                      2020 |
|         8 | Dancing Shiva                               | Rajasthan                            | UK                             |                      2020 |
|         9 | Limestone pillar                            | Andhra Pradesh                       | UK                             |                      2020 |
|        10 | Metal idol of Rama                          | Tamil Nadu                           | UK                             |                      2020 |
|        11 | Metal idol of Laxamana                      | Tamil Nadu                           | UK                             |                      2020 |
|        12 | Metal idol of Sita                          | Tamil Nadu                           | UK                             |                      2020 |
|        13 | Navaneetha Krishna                          | South India                          | UK                             |                      2021 |

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (b) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2118 FOR 08.03.2021

ANNEXURE - III

## NUMBER OF CASES: RETRIEVAL OF ARTIFACTS UNDER PROCESS

|   Sl. No. | Country     |   Number of antiquities/ artifacts |
|-----------|-------------|------------------------------------|
|         1 | Canada      |                                  1 |
|         2 | Switzerland |                                  1 |
|         3 | Australia   |                                 19 |
|         4 | Belgium     |                                  1 |
|         5 | Singapore   |                                 17 |
|         6 | France      |                                  1 |
|         7 | Germany     |                                  1 |
|         8 | USA         |                                 71 |
|         9 | UK          |                                  1 |

ANNEXURE - IV

## LIST OF MONUMENTS/ SITES WHICH ARE UNTRACEABLE

| Assam             | Assam                                                                                   |
|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.                | Guns of Emperor Sher Shah, Sadia, Tinsukia                                              |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                       |
| 2.                | The Ruins of Copper Temple, Paya, Lohit                                                 |
| Haryana           | Haryana                                                                                 |
| 3.                | Kos Minar, Mujesar, Faridabad                                                           |
| 4.                | Kos Minar, Shahabad, Kurukshetra                                                        |
| Uttarakhand       | Uttarakhand                                                                             |
| 5.                | Kutumbari Temple, Dwarahat, Almora                                                      |
| Delhi             | Delhi                                                                                   |
| 6.                | Bara Khamba Cemetery, Delhi                                                             |
| 7.                | Inchla Wali Gumti, Mubarakpur Kotla                                                     |
| Madhya Pradesh    | Madhya Pradesh                                                                          |
| 8.                | Rock Inscription, Satna                                                                 |
| Maharashtra       | Maharashtra                                                                             |
| 9.                | Old European Tomb, Pune                                                                 |
| 10.               | One Buruj, Agarkot                                                                      |
| Rajasthan         | Rajasthan                                                                               |
| 11.               | Inscription in Fort, Nagar, Tonk                                                        |
| 12.               | 12 th Century Temple, Baran                                                             |
| Uttar Pradesh     | Uttar Pradesh                                                                           |
| 13.               | Ruins of three small linga temple circle 1000 AD, Ahugi Mirzapur                        |
| 14.               | Three sites with megaliths on the western and north eastern toes of the hill, Chandauli |
| 15.               | Tablet of Treasury Building, Varanasi                                                   |
| 16.               | Telia Nala Buddhist ruins, Varanasi                                                     |
| 17.               | A Banyan grove containing traces of anicient buiding, Amavey, Ballia                    |
| 18.               | Closed Cemetery, Katra Naka, Banda                                                      |
| 19.               | Gunner Burkill's Tomb, Mehroni, Lalitpur                                                |
| 20.               | Three Tomb, Lucknow- Faizabad Road, Lucknow                                             |
| 21.               | Cemeteries at miles 6 and 7, Jahraila Road, Lucknow                                     |
| 22.               | Cemetery at Gaughat, Lucknow                                                            |
| 23.               | Large ruined site called Sandi-Khera, Pali, Shahabad, Hardoi                            |
| West Bengal       | West Bengal                                                                             |
| 24.               | Ruins of Fort, Bamanpur, Nadia                                                          |

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