96 stolen archaeological treasures repatriated to Nepal after decades
KATHMANDU, June 27: In a significant achievement for cultural preservation, Nepal has successfully reclaimed 96 precious archaeological artifacts that were smuggled out of the country illegally. In most of the cases, the artifacts were stolen by foreigners in collusion with local intermediaries and dispatched to various countries using diplomatic bags by concealing them with exported goods.
The Department of Archaeology, operating under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, has announced the triumphant return of 96 stolen archaeological treasures, which had been stolen from Nepal over a span of 38 years and dispersed across the globe.
Sarita Subedi, an archaeology officer at the department, revealed that these 96 invaluable artifacts, previously smuggled to nations such as Britain, Germany, Italy, China, the United States, and others at different points in time, have been repatriated to Nepal. She emphasized that prior to 1950, there were no documented cases of Nepal’s cultural heritage being looted, transported, or illicitly exported to foreign lands. “Since the turn of the millennium, the incidence of theft and illicit trafficking of our cultural treasures appears to have declined. Security agencies continue to make commendable efforts in recovering stolen artifacts and handing them over to the department,” she added. Subedi mentioned that based on the complaints registered with the department, 236 items of archaeological importance were stolen and transported from the year 2006 to the second week of May 2023 (2063 BS to 2080 BS).
During the 1970s to 1990s, a significant number of archaeologically significant items were looted from Nepal and illicitly taken overseas. However, due to a lack of records at the Department of Archaeology, the full extent of these losses remains unknown. Nevertheless, recent information provided by the department reveals the successful return of several stolen artifacts. In 1996 AD (2042 BS), a collection of 13 metal idols, including Tara, Mahankal, Badyabadan, Bhusparsha Buddha, Dharmachakra, Buddha, Pragya Parmita, Bajrakila (Phurba), Lama, Basundhara, Buddha, Stupa, and Prabha, were repatriated from Kolkata. These precious idols are currently housed at the National Museum in Chhauni.
Similarly, in 2000 AD (2053 BS), a batch of 19 idols, such as Augusta Muni, Sridhara Vishnu (2 pieces), Vishnu and Garuda feet on Kamalasana, Apsara (2 pieces), Padyahasta Devi, Buddha head, Bodhisattva Buddha statue, Dancing Goddess statue, Vishnu incomplete with missing leg parts (2 pieces), fragmented Sridhara Vishnu (part of Lakshmi), headless Vishnu statue, wooden Bhairava Mukunda (2 pieces), manuscript Ashta Sahasrika Prajnaparamita, and Shiva Parivar Yantra, were returned to the National Museum from London, England.
Additionally, in 2000 AD (2056 BS), the idol of Uma Maheshwoa, which had been lost from Dhulikhel, was repatriated from Germany and is now displayed at the Patan Museum. During the same year, one statue of Garudasan Vishnu, originally from Jaisidewal in the capital, one statue of Buddha from Bhinchebahad in Patan, one statue of Saraswati lost from Pharping, and one statue of Surya stolen from Panauti were also reclaimed and are presently housed at the National Museum. The standing statue of Padmapani Lokeshwar, which was returned by an Italian citizen in 2002 AD (2057 BS), is currently housed in the National Museum. Additionally, the gold-plated Dipankar Buddha statue, repatriated from Austria in 2004 AD (2059 BS), has been beautifully restored and is now displayed at Pimbahal in Patan.
Moreover, a collection of 28 idols and chaityas, previously lost from Yatser Jangchumaling Monastery in Dolpa, was returned from Lhasa, Tibet, in 2007 AD (2064 BS). After performing specific rituals as requested by the locals, these sacred objects were reinstated in the same monastery, reinstating their cultural and spiritual significance.
In 2014 AD (2071 BS), Nepal regained possession of Markandeya Purana 1, a handwritten manuscript, which had been part of European art collector Robert A Ellison’s personal collection. This invaluable artifact is currently safeguarded within the National Museum. Additionally, following the passing of Leroy Allen Ehrenreich, an American citizen, four idols were returned to Nepal in 2017 AD (2074 BS). These include a 15th-century Dhyani Buddha, Amoghpas Lokeshwar from the 16th century, another Amoghpas Lokeshwar from the 17th century, and a 17th-century Manjushree. All four idols are now housed in the National Museum. Furthermore, in the same year, two statues of Buddha and Uma Maheshwar were repatriated from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. The idol of Sthanaka Buddha is on display at the National Museum, while the idol of Uma Maheshwar has been meticulously restored and is currently exhibited at Tangalhiti in Patan.
In 2021 AD (2078 BS), the Vasudeva Kamalaj (Lakshmi Narayan) statue, originally from the Narayan Temple in Momdu Tol, Patan, was repatriated from the Dallas Museum of Art in Texas, USA, and meticulously restored before being reinstated at its original location. During the same year, with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office, Nepal retrieved a golden Buddha statue made of brass, a polychrome wooden Salbhanjika Tundal, and a brass Ganesha statue. These artifacts were returned from the National Museum and are now proudly displayed there. Additionally, the Department successfully restored a missing wooden Gandharva (Vidyadhar) from the Dewali house in Itumbahal and a missing wooden pylon above the main door from the Patan Ampi Maha Bihar. These precious items were repatriated from the Rubin Museum of Art in the United States. In the same year, a Buddha statue, returned from the Tibet House Collection in Manhattan, USA, found its place in the National Museum.
Last year, the Uma Maheswar statue, originally lost from Patan Gahhiti, was returned from the Denver Art Museum in the USA. Similarly, the Chaturmukhi Shivlinga from the Pashupati complex, which had been missing, was repatriated from the Art Institute of Chicago. Furthermore, the Shakya Muni Buddha, Nagraj, and Padmapani Lokeshwar statues, lost from the Naxal region, were returned from the private company Marilyn B Alsdorf Trust. These artifacts are currently showcased in the National Museum. Another notable repatriation was a star statue, lost from Bhaktapur Golmarhi village, which was returned from the Yale University Art Gallery. This precious artifact has now found its home in the National Museum. Additionally, two missing polychrome wood carved tundals of male figures from the Narayan Temple of Humat Tol in Teku, previously part of an American citizen’s personal collection, have been successfully returned to Nepal. These valuable tundals are currently safeguarded in the National Museum. A wooden Salbhanjika tundal of Itumbahal, which was returned from the Metropolitan Museum in New York, a statue of Shiva standing between two sadhus of Kankeswari Prastra in Kathmandu has been restored to the same place. Similarly, the wooden artistic pylon of Kumari Ghar returned from London, UK and the statue of a devotee kneeling in salutation pose, which was lost from Ombahal, are stored in the National Museum.
In May this year, the 13th century wooden Salbhanjika tundal of Patan Ratneshwar Temple, which was returned from the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, was placed in the Patan Museum. An 18th century stone statue of Buddha and a 15th century wooden dancing goddess of Patan Ibahavhi returned from the personal collection of former US Ambassador Peter Burlich have been placed in the National Museum for conservation.
“We are trying to bring back the archaeologically important objects of Nepal through diplomatic initiatives,’ said the spokesperson of the department, Ram Bahadur Kunwar.
According to the data of Nepal Police, between the fiscal years 2013/14 and 2022/23 (up until May), a total of 592 items of archaeological significance were reported stolen from various locations across Nepal. Unfortunately, efforts to locate and retrieve all of these stolen artifacts have been partially successful, leaving 145 items still unaccounted for. In the current fiscal year 2022/23, as of mid-May, Nepal Police recorded eight cases of theft involving archaeological items from different parts of the country. Notably, authorities were able to apprehend eight individuals involved in stealing items such as copper glasses, stamped items, a silver statue, pieces of a crown, and ankhara jar (four pieces) from Dhanusha. Additionally, one Buddha statue was recovered from Banke district.
Furthermore, according to Nepal Police data, a total of 60 cases of theft involving archaeological objects were registered in the previous fiscal year 2021/22. These cases involved the theft of 19 Hindu idols, three copper urns, four shaligram stones, two panchadios, two urns, one aarti urn, eight muga pieces, among others from various regions, including Solukhumbu, Saptari, Makwanpur, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Lalitpur, and Kathmandu. Other stolen items included two Panas plates, two Gajur heads, five Jalauri, four conches, and one ankhara jar. Although the police were able to apprehend 26 individuals in connection with these cases, 10 items of archaeological importance remain unaccounted for.
“Even though the security agencies are there to protect the cultural heritage of Nepal, the theft has not stopped,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police Kuber Kadayat, spokesperson for the Nepal Police. Although the security agencies have been deployed to discourage it, there has been no reduction in the number of items of archaeological importance being stolen.
