Glasgow becomes first city in UK to send stolen artefacts back to India

Agencies | Glasgow

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Glasgow has become the first city in the UK to start send stolen artefacts which are now museum exhibits back to India.

Seven objects are on the way to New Delhi as part of a historic agreement, including a ceremonial Indo-Persian tulwar (a type of sword), believed to be from the 14th century, and an 11th century carved stone door jamb from a Hindu temple in Kanpur.

A total of 51 items are being returned to India, Nigeria and two tribes in South Dakota, US, but Glasgow first began the initiative in 1998. In August Glasgow Life welcomed dignitaries from the High Commission of India in London for a transfer of ownership ceremony to return the seven items.

Delegates visited Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to sign an agreement confirming the repatriation of the objects, six of which were stolen from temples and shrines across India during the 19th century, the other was bought after a theft from the owner.