For a nation to go from conservatively occupying 25% of global GDP to not being able to feed more than 25% its people was an indigestible contrast. But such was the story of India. For centuries, India had been exploited for its riches. Treasures, ancient artifacts, and priceless relics—once a proud part of the creative fabric of India’s identity—were stolen from the land of their origin during times of colonization, conflict, and exploitation. These pieces carrying the essence of India’s glorious creative past are hidden in distant museums, private collections, and galleries around the world.
Imagine losing a cherished heirloom—an object passed down through generations. It’s painful for a few generations but then the rule of out of sight is out of mind applies to it. Fewer and fewer know or remember anything about it. Eventually nobody knows that something is missing. And when that happens an aspect of creative, cultural, and spiritual legacy is erased forever. I can bet that no more than 50 people in the entire nation of 1.4 billion people would know anything about what and how much of our creative, cultural, and spiritual soul is stolen and gone missing.
This is changing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his term as the Prime Minister of the nation nearly 600 of such precious artifacts have returned to India. With each repatriation, India is not just retrieving an object, but restoring a part of its creative, cultural, and spiritual soul. This is also making the India population aware of what has been forcefully taken from them.
Things of significance are the ones that gets stolen. Useless and trivial things are not going to get stolen. So, what has been taken away from us is more than just a physical item; it is a matter of significance and a symbol of Indian history, culture, creativity, and legacy. Stolen artifacts are the keys to unlocking the forgotten chapters of ancient Indian civilization. Every time a piece of our heritage is returned, it is like finding a lost key that opens a door to our past, bringing back not just the object but the very spirit of our glorious creative heritage.
The repatriation of cultural artifacts is more than a political or diplomatic achievement—it is a matter of immense national pride. Prime Minister Modi’s relentless efforts to bring back these treasures represent the nation’s deep commitment to honoring its history of creative traditions and values. In his 2024 visit to US, the US returned 297 antiquities valued over 10 million dollars to PM Modi.
PM Modi’s leadership has transformed India’s stance on repatriating cultural artifacts from one of passive acceptance to active, strategic diplomacy. India has boldly raised its voice in international forums, forging alliances with nations and institutions, and demanding the return of its stolen cultural heritage. And these efforts have borne fruit. From the iconic Nataraja statue to many others, the return of these artifacts are not just diplomatic triumphs. They are moments of emotional significance for every Indian.
By building stronger diplomatic relations and engaging deeper with global institutions like UNESCO, PM Modi has fostered a network of cooperation that transcends borders. India has become an advocate for stronger global laws to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property, urging nations to recognize the importance of cultural preservation. India has made strides in working directly with foreign governments, museums, and galleries to track and return stolen artifacts. The recognition that cultural heritage is not the property of one nation alone, but a shared legacy for all of humanity, has gained traction under PM Modi’s leadership.
While India celebrates the return of each artifact, the true victory will come when the world no longer waits for PM Modi to visit a foreign country to have these treasures returned. The day will come when nations will not need to be reminded that returning cultural and spiritual legacy is an act of honesty and righteousness. I await the day when the global community will voluntarily return all of India’s cultural, creative, and spiritual heritage.
Every Indian, whether in the heart of bustling cities or in the quietest rural village, has a stake in this journey. Each artifact returned represents not just the retrieval of a physical object, but the restoration of a cultural identity that spans thousands of years. It is a victory for every individual who cherishes India’s ancient creative expressions and traditions and for every individual who holds the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
The repatriation of these artifacts has been an emotional journey—a reclaiming of history that was not only once lost but also sadly forgotten. With each return, Indians are reminded that their culture, their past, and their heritage are treasures to be preserved and protected. It is a movement that unites the nation in a sense of collective pride, a movement that is powered by the belief that India’s past is its future.
India’s journey to reclaim its legacy is far from over, but under PM Modi’s leadership, the nation has united and committed to show that the pursuit of justice for its stolen cultural, creative, and spiritual soul is a cause worth fighting for.
(Dr. Arpan Yagnik is a renowned global consultant and coach on Creativity and Fear)
