
Britain's prestigious Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze statue of a saint stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu to India.
A statement issued by the University's Ashmolean Museum said that on March 11, 2024, the Council of Oxford University supported the Indian High Commission's claim to return the 16th-century bronze statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar from the Ashmolean Museum. The decision will now be sent to the Charity Commission for approval.
The 60 cm high statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum of the University of Oxford from Sotheby's auction house in 1967 from the collection of a collector named Dr. J.R. Belmont (1886-1981).
The museum says that in November last year, an independent researcher informed it about the origin of this ancient statue, after which it informed the Indian High Commission about it.
The Indian government has made a formal request for the bronze statue, which is believed to have been stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu and ended up in a UK museum through auction.
The museum, which houses some of the world's most famous art and archeological artifacts, says it acquired the statue in 1967 in "good faith".
There have been several instances of Indian artifacts stolen from the UK being restored to India, the most recent being in August last year when a limestone carved statue from Andhra Pradesh and a 17th-century "Navaneet Krishna" bronze statue from Tamil Nadu were handed over to the Indian High Commissioner in the UK following a joint investigation by Scotland Yard's art and antiquities unit.
The rape of a medical student in Durgapur, West Bengal, is constantly in the news. Yesterday, Chi
The Supreme Court heard petitions related to air pollution in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday. During the he
IPL 2026: If Not Ayush Mhatre, Then Who? Ruturaj Gaikwad Himself Reveals CSK's New Opening Pair
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has revealed his team’s opening pair ahead of I
The US has strongly reprimanded the head of the interim government of Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus,
The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front on Wednesday alleged that the state government has withdrawn
Structural consultant Chetan Patil has been arrested for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapat
India launches GST 2.0 today, introducing major changes to tax rates. After the GST Council's Sep
Two cases of Nipah virus have been reported in India. Regarding this, the World Health Organizati
Pakistan's start in the T20 World Cup 2024 has been very embarrassing. Co-host USA defeated Pakis
40 schools, including many big schools in the capital Delhi, have received bomb threats. DPS RK P