Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared what he described as a “happy moment” from his visit to the Netherlands, announcing the return of 1,000-year-old Chola paintings from the country to India.
“Happy moment for every Indian! Chola copper plates dating back to the 11th century will be returned to India from Netherlands. He participated in the ceremony itself in the presence of Prime Minister Rob Gitten,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
He thanked the government of the Netherlands for this gesture, as well as Leiden University, where the paintings have been preserved since the mid-nineteenth century.
The Prime Minister is on a five-country tour. He has already visited the United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands was the second stop of his visit. He is scheduled to travel to Sweden, Norway and Italy after that, concluding the tour on May 20.
What do we know about Chola paintings?
What and how much? In his post, Prime Minister Modi said that the ancient artefacts that will be returned are a collection of 21 large paintings and three small paintings. These largely contain texts written in Tamil, which Modi referred to as “one of the most beautiful languages in the world”.
Who took them? News agency PTI reported that the paintings were transported to the Netherlands in the 18th century by Florentius Camper. Kamber was part of a Christian mission in India in Nagapattinam, the city mentioned in the paintings. This was when the city was under Dutch control.
What do they say? PM Modi’s post also gave the history behind the plaques, saying they constitute a formalization of a verbal commitment. “It is about the great Rajendra Chola I formalizing the verbal commitment made by his father King Rajaraja I. It also showcases the greatness of the Chola family,” Prime Minister Modi said, while highlighting India’s pride in the Chola family.
“We in India are extremely proud of the Chola people, their culture and their maritime prowess,” the Prime Minister said.
India has been seeking to recover the Annamangalam copper plates, also known in the Netherlands as Leiden plates, since 2012.
They have formalized the dedication of Annamangalam village to the Buddha Vihara called Cholamanivarma-Vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
“The recovery of these Chola copper plates is significant as they are not just artefacts of the past, but a priceless story of India’s heritage and civilization. The repatriation of these plates has a deep emotional appeal for the people of India,” the ministry said.
The panels weigh about 30 kg and are bound together with a bronze ring bearing the royal seal of the Chola dynasty. It is also divided into two parts – one containing texts in Sanskrit, and the other in Tamil, PTI reported.
“Repatriation of Indian cultural artifacts”
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said the return of the paintings “marks another step in the repatriation of Indian cultural artefacts from abroad.”
He added: “A collection of 21 large panels and 3 small panels. These royal charters contain texts written in Tamil and Sanskrit and highlight the heritage of the Chola dynasty.”
The original verbal command for dedication was given by Rajaraja Chola I, which was recorded in palm leaves. His son Rajendra Chola I had the grant amount engraved on sturdy copper plates for preservation.
