Why Vagdevi idol faces a long road home, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar a temple, addressing the idol of Saraswati (Vagdevi).
• The court directed the Central Government to assess requests for the idol's return from the British Museum in London and its potential reinstallation.
• The idol, a Jaina yakṣiṇī Ambikā from the Paramara dynasty (year 1034), was taken to England in 1886 and acquired by the British Museum in 1909.
• The British Museum, holding approximately 8 million objects with 90% originating outside Britain, faces legal restrictions on permanently returning items.

Detailed Insights:

• The idol was removed from the Bhojshala complex by British officer Major General William Kincaid during clearing operations in Dhar.
• While legally restricted from permanent returns, the British Museum offers a program to loan artifacts to their countries of origin for up to three years.
• Other UK museums, like the Wellcome Collection and Glasgow Museum, have repatriated historical items, including ancient Jain manuscripts, to India.
• The British Museum has a section on ‘Contested objects’, including the Benin Bronzes and the Magdala collection, reflecting debates over colonial-era acquisitions.
• Indian groups are actively campaigning for the return of artifacts like the Vagdevi idol and the Amaravati marbles.
• The return of the Kohinoor diamond is a complex issue due to competing claims from Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
• The UK and India have discussed “shared access” to historical artifacts, with British officials engaging with Indian counterparts.
• A replica of the Vagdevi idol has been installed at the Bhojshala complex for daily rituals.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Repatriation: The process of returning an asset or object of cultural significance to its country of origin.
• Colonial Artefacts: Items acquired during the period of colonial rule, often subject to debates over ownership and return.
• Bilateral Agreements: Agreements between two countries, often used to facilitate cultural exchanges and artifact returns.