M A I N   N E W S

India wants UK to return Kohinoor

London, June 1
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has joined an international network for the return of priceless artifacts, including the Kohinoor diamond and the Sultanganj Buddha, taken away during British rule.

ASI Director-General Gautam Sengupta said the list of India’s treasures held abroad was “too long to handle” and there was a need for a “diplomatic and legal campaign” for their restitution from institutions, including the British Museum, the Royal Collection and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Speaking to The Independent, Sengupta said after decades of unsuccessful unilateral lobbying, India was looking to join a campaign with the support of UNESCO and other countries, including Egypt and Greece, with longstanding complaints about the foreign ownership of their artistic riches.

While underlining the need to be “realistic” about the chances of large numbers of items being returned, Sengupta told the newspaper that a list of “unique items” that should be returned to their home countries was being drawn up by each of the participating countries.

Rita McLean, head of the Birmingham Museum, said: “We have not received any official request for the return of the Sultanganj Buddha. Any requests for restitution will be treated on a case-by-case basis.” According to the newspaper report, the British Museum said it was satisfied that the objects highlighted by the Indian authorities had been acquired legitimately. — PTI