21 valuable archaeological artifacts stolen from Nepal returned from USA (photos)
These items were previously stolen from Nepal and illegally taken to the United States.
KATHMANDU: The Department of Archaeology on Sunday morning handed over 21 important artistic artifacts to the respective local authorities in Nepal.
These items were previously stolen from Nepal and illegally taken to the United States.
Among the returned objects are three Pauba paintings (dating from the 15th to 18th centuries), which were stolen from the Itumbahal area in Kathmandu in 1980.
Additionally, a stone statue of Buddha (9th century), which had been taken from the Maccindrabhahāl Stupa in Bungmati, was also returned.
Another significant item is a stone sculpture of the Muddhalind Buddha from the Guith Chaitya in Patan’s Guith Tol (12th to 13th century).
In total, 16 more artworks (ranging from the 9th to 19th century) that were once taken from various places in Nepal have also been returned.
During the event, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, stated that no matter where Nepali heritage is taken, the significance of the items is always understood, and efforts to return them will continue.
He also assured that with the present government’s commitment, there will be no future attempts to steal such item
He raised the question of how these artifacts were taken in the past, emphasizing that such acts would no longer be possible.
He assured the public that the government is dedicated to restoring stolen artifacts and ensuring that the financial situation would not hinder these efforts.
Minister Pandey also noted that local governments are now capable of protecting their cultural heritage. He expressed the commitment to return artifacts to their original locations to preserve the cultural faith and heritage.
To date, a total of 177 archaeological and artistic objects have been returned to Nepal from countries including the UK, Austria, the USA, China (Tibet), India, Germany, Australia, and Italy, thanks to the efforts of various national and international individuals and organizations. Ongoing diplomatic efforts are being made to return even more artifacts from countries like the USA, France, the UK, China, Austria, and Australia.
With the recent return, the total number of archaeological items returned from the United States alone has reached 104.
