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India and Netherlands Mark Major Cultural Heritage Restitution
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the historic Leiden Copper Plates by Leiden University during his visit to the Netherlands, marking a significant step in cultural heritage restitution and India-Netherlands cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the historic Leiden Copper Plates during his official visit to the Netherlands, in what is being described as a landmark moment in India-Netherlands cultural cooperation and heritage restitution.
The artefacts were handed over by authorities of Leiden University, where the plates had been preserved for more than a century in the university’s Asian Library.
Known as the Leiden Copper Plates, the collection includes 21 large and three small copper plates bound together by a bronze ring carrying the royal seal of Rajendra Chola I. Five of the plates contain inscriptions in Sanskrit, while sixteen are inscribed in Tamil.
Another associated set of copper plates bearing the seal of Kulottunga Chola I also contains Tamil inscriptions.
Historians regard the copper plates as among the most important surviving records of the Chola Empire. The inscriptions provide detailed information about governance, taxation systems, land reforms, irrigation management, and trade practices during the Chola period.
The records also reflect the dynasty’s religious inclusiveness. One inscription documents the grant of the village of Anaimangalam for the establishment of a Buddhist vihara by rulers of the Srivijaya empire.
Experts believe the copper plates offer rare historical evidence of strong maritime, diplomatic, and cultural ties between South India and Southeast Asia nearly a thousand years ago.
In addition to the artefacts, Leiden University will also transfer archival records, metadata, and related historical correspondence connected to the copper plates to India.
The return of the historic artefacts is being viewed as an important achievement in preserving and reclaiming India’s cultural heritage from overseas institutions.