After the repatriation of 105 stolen antiquities to India in July 2023, the USA has committed to return a further 1,414 heritage objects making this the largest repatriation to India in history. Many of the antiques due for return are currently in possession of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (‘Met Museum’). As part of the repatriation, members of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will travel to America to verify the items in question are indeed genuine antiques. Reports have also revealed that some of the antiques at the Met were smuggled to the USA by Subash Kapoor, a New York art dealer who is now serving 10 years in jail for the illegal trade of stolen cultural artefacts worth $10 million.
The current Indian Government is now making the stolen return of heritage an important aspect of its geopolitical strategy. From 1947 to 2013, India saw the return of a mere 13 antiques. From 2014 to 2019 that number increased to 500. The USA leads other Western nations in cooperating with India and since 2016 has returned 278 antiques. The past decade has also witnessed repatriation drives from Canada, Germany and Australia led by senior Government representatives. In contrast, the British Government shows little enthusiasm to engage in the matter. In addition to being home to one of the oldest diaspora Hindu communities; which are amongst some of the highest taxpayers, the UK currently possesses a very large number of Murtis and sacred gems that it stole during the colonial era.