**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the repatriation of three historic bronze sculptures from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art to India on 13 May 2026. Two artefacts arrived in New Delhi on 12 May 2026, while a third remains on a three-year loan arrangement until 2028 for global exhibition. This recovery is part of a broader government effort that has seen 666 antiquities returned since 2014 through international cooperation and archival research.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Identified Repatriated Bronzes**
* **Shiva Nataraja:** A Chola-period sculpture (circa 990 CE) originally from Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Thanjavur.
* **Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma):** A 12th-century Chola-period piece from the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur.
* **Saint Sundarar with Paravai:** A 16th-century Vijayanagara-period sculpture from a Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram.
* **Tracing and Verification Process**
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted extensive provenance research using 1950s and 1960s archival records and temple photographs.
* Successful recovery resulted from coordinated negotiations between the Ministry of Culture, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Embassy of India in the United States.
* **Timeline and Loan Agreement**
* The Somaskanda and Saint Sundarar bronzes were returned to New Delhi on 12 May 2026.
* The Shiva Nataraja is subject to a three-year loan (2025–2028) for the exhibition “The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas” before final repatriation.
* **Broader Repatriation Efforts**
* A total of 666 antiquities have been repatriated since 2014 through diplomatic and legal channels.
* US law enforcement recently handed over 657 additional art objects of Indian origin to the Embassy of India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)**
**Impact**
These organizations have reaffirmed their role in reclaiming India’s civilisational memory and strengthening ethical museum practices globally.
**Action Required**
ASI experts must now arrange for the transportation and formal verification of the 657 recently handed-over art objects.
**Smithsonian Institution (National Museum of Asian Art)**
**Impact**
The institution is transitioning from being a long-term holder of illicitly removed artefacts to a partner in ethical stewardship and international cooperation.
**Action Required**
The museum must facilitate the scheduled display of the Shiva Nataraja sculpture and ensure its return to India following the conclusion of the loan period in 2028.
**Embassy of India in the United States**
**Impact**
The Embassy serves as the primary liaison for receiving recovered items from US law enforcement and coordinating with domestic agencies.
**Action Required**
Continue coordinating with ASI experts for the secure transfer and processing of the 657 newly recovered art objects.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The primary government body leading diplomatic and institutional efforts to reclaim stolen cultural treasures and preserve India's civilisational memory.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The nodal agency responsible for provenance research, field documentation, and the technical verification of repatriated antiquities.
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art: The international institution that repatriated three historic bronzes and entered a three-year loan arrangement with India for the Shiva Nataraja sculpture.
Tamil Nadu: The central state of origin for the repatriated Chola and Vijayanagara period temple bronzes traced to sites in Thanjavur, Veerasolapuram, and Alattur.
Embassy of India in the United States: The diplomatic mission coordinating negotiations and the handover of art objects from US law enforcement agencies for repatriation to India.
Ministry of Culture
Celebrating the Return of India’s Lost Cultural
Heritage: Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat Addresses Press Meet at National
Museum
Posted On: 13 MAY 2026 5:56PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today said that the return of the
sacred antiquities from the United States marks the restoration of India’s civilisational memory and
reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment towards reclaiming and preserving the nation’s
cultural heritage under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference at the National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi, the Minister described the
repatriation of the three historic bronzes from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art as a
significant milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to bring back stolen cultural treasures and strengthen
ethical museum practices globally.
The repatriated bronzes include a Chola-period Shiva Nataraja dating to circa 990 CE, a 12th-century
Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma), and a 16th-century Vijayanagara-period sculpture of Saint Sundarar with
Paravai. These sacred temple bronzes, originally from Tamil Nadu, had been illicitly removed from India
in the mid-20th century and subsequently housed abroad.
The Minister mentioned that antiquities are not merely artistic objects but embodiments of India’s spiritual
traditions, historical continuity and civilisational memory. He noted that illicit trafficking of antiquities
had deprived India of several invaluable cultural treasures over decades.The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), through extensive provenance research using archival
records, field documentation and historical temple photographs from the 1950s and 1960s, successfully
traced the artefacts to their original temple sites in Tamil Nadu. The findings formed the basis for
coordinated negotiations involving the Ministry of Culture, the Smithsonian Institution and the
Embassy of India in the United States.
The identified antiquities include:
Shiva Nataraja (Chola period, circa 990 CE): Originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara
Temple in Thanjavur district and was photographed there in 1957.
Saint Sundarar with Paravai (16th century, Vijayanagara period): Photographed in 1956 at the
Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Tamil Nadu.
Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma) (12th century, Chola period): Photographed in 1959 at the
Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Tamil Nadu.The Somaskanda and Saint Sundarar with Paravai bronzes arrived in New Delhi on 12 May 2026, while
the Shiva Nataraja will be repatriated following its scheduled display in the exhibition “The Art of
Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.”
As a goodwill gesture and in support of responsible museum engagement, the Government of India has
agreed to a three-year loan arrangement for the Shiva Nataraja sculpture from 2025 to 2028, allowing
audiences worldwide to understand its complete historical journey from origin to repatriation.
The Minister also informed that since 2014, India has successfully repatriated 666 antiquities from various
countries, including 653 since 2014 alone, through sustained diplomatic, legal and institutional efforts led
by the Ministry of Culture, ASI, Indian Missions abroad and enforcement agencies.
He further noted that recently, 657 art objects of Indian origin were handed over by US law enforcement
agencies to the Embassy of India in the United States, and arrangements are underway for their
transportation and verification by ASI experts.
The press interaction was attended by Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; and other
senior officials from National Museum, Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of
Culture, distinguished guests, and members of the media.
The event reaffirmed India’s resolve to restore and preserve its stolen cultural heritage through
international cooperation, ethical stewardship and institutional commitment.
***M. Annadurai
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