
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.
Film actor Salman Khan's father Salim Khan received a threat on Thursday morning. Salim Khan, who
Health officials in India are keeping an eye on reports of a rise in COVID-19 cases in Singapore
The Cannes Film Festival 2025 has started with a bang. Actress Urvashi Rautela arrived on the fir
The US has announced plans to impose a 50 per cent tariff on goods imported from India. This is t
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has granted a major relief to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejri
Tamil Nadu stampede case: Supreme Court to hear today, Madras High Court order challenged
The Supreme Court will hear a petition filed by Tamil actor Vijay's political party, Tamilaga Vet
There is still anger across the country over the horrific incident that happened with the female
Tension has prevailed in many places due to the provocative slogans raised in the processions tak
The report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by Jagdambika Pal on the Waqf Amendm
On Saturday, around 6 pm, due to 58 mm rain in Rajendra Nagar and surrounding areas, when more th