Washington: The US president Barack Obama returned over 200 cultural artefacts of worth $100 million to India at a ceremony which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After receiving the artefacts PM Modi expressed his gratitude to his friend and said, “I am grateful to President Obama for returning to us these treasures, which join us to our past. This will evoke great respect among the people of India.”
“For some, these artefacts may be measured in monetary terms but for us this is beyond that. It’s a part of our culture and heritage,” the Prime Minister said at the ceremony held at the Blair House.
The items received from Washington included religious statues, bronzes and terra cotta pieces, some dating back 2,000 years, looted from some of India’s most treasured religious sites. From a bronze Ganesh estimated to be 1, 000-year-old to a Jain figure of Bahubali will be back in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs of India, Vikas Swarup tweeted, “PM @narendramodi :Over the past 2 years, various countries have endeavored 2 return India’s stolen cultural heritage. ”
