England returned looted goods to India during the colonial period – International

A Glasgow museum has formally handed over seven artefacts looted during colonialism in the 19th century to India, becoming the first cultural institution in the UK to do so.

The Glasgow Life Institute, which manages the Scottish city’s museum collections, said in a statement on Friday (19) that it had today received Indian embassy representatives to transfer the assets.

These seven antiquities were looted from sacred places like temples and donated to the city’s museum collections.

Six objects were stolen from northern India in the 1800s, and another, a 14th-century ceremonial sword, was bought illegally after being stolen from its owners.

In total, the Glasgow museum decided to return 51 objects: in addition to seven objects destined for India, it returned 19 bronzes from the ancient kingdom of Benin promised to Nigeria, and 25 objects – mainly ceremonial objects – from the Sioux tribe. Cheyenne River and Oglala, South Dakota (USA).

Many Western museums, following the anti-apartheid movements, have begun to assess the provenance of objects in their collections and have initiated restoration procedures.

The return on Friday “marks an important step forward for Glasgow” and seeks to restore the “ownership” of these works, said Duncan Doran, chairman of Glasgow Life Museums and Collections.

“These items are part of our heritage as a civilization and now they will be returned to their countries of origin,” said Sujit Ghosh, Acting Head of Mission of India to the UK, thanking “everyone who made this possible”, including the city. of Glasgow.