EAM Jaishankar Presides Over Repatriation of Two Stolen Idols in UK
GG News Bureau
London, 16th Nov. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar presided over a repatriation ceremony in London on Wednesday for two temple idols that were stolen from India in the 8th century and recently discovered in England.
The idols, known as Yogini Chamunda and Yogini Gomukhi, were stolen from a temple in Lokhari, Uttar Pradesh, between the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were recovered by the High Commission of India in London with the support of the India Pride Project and Art Recovery International.
Jaishankar unveiled the idols at India House on the final day of his visit to the UK and expressed his anticipation for their return to India.
During the ceremony, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of legal, transparent, and rules-based cultural exchanges. He stated that it is crucial to address any deviations from these principles, not only in this case but as a broader message that such practices are unacceptable in the present time.
The term “Yogini” refers to female masters of the yogic arts, and there are 64 divine Yoginis worshipped as goddesses at Yogini temples like Lokhari. These idols were believed to possess divine powers, and adept worshippers could acquire some of these powers through secret rituals performed before the statues.
The Lokhari temple originally had 20 Yogini statues, which depicted beautiful women with animal heads.
In the 1970s, the temple was targeted by a group of robbers suspected to be operating from Rajasthan and Maharashtra. They smuggled stolen goods, including the idols, into Europe via Switzerland. Some statues were stolen, others were broken, and the remaining intact statues were hidden by local villagers.
Chris Marinello from Art Recovery International stated that this is the fifth time they have been able to return significant pieces of cultural heritage to India, having previously done so in Milan, Brussels, and London three times.
They collaborate closely with the India Pride Project, which identifies these artifacts, and negotiate with the possessors to achieve a mutually agreeable resolution.
Jaspreet Singh Sukhija, First Secretary of Trade and Economics at the Indian High Commission in London, has been working with the India Pride Project on the restitution of these idols.
The objective is to find acceptable and amicable solutions that allow India’s heritage to return to its rightful place, where it originated and where it is most valued, as stated by Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami.
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