Scotland museum signs deal to return 7 ancient artefacts to India

Seven artefacts, including a stone door jamb stolen from a Hindu temple in Uttar Pradesh, have been transferred back to India by Glasgow’s museums as part of Scotland’s “largest-ever” repatriation of objects from a single collection.

The seven antiquities to now find their way back to India include a ceremonial Indo-Persian talwar or sword, believed to date back to the 14th century, and an 11th century carved stone door jamb taken from a temple in Kanpur.

Most of the objects were removed from temples and shrines in different states in northern India during the 19th century, while one was purchased following a theft from the owner. All seven artefacts were gifted to Glasgow’s collections, according to Glasgow Life.

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96-mile (154-kilometre) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast and the Irish Sea to the south.

It also contains more than 790 islands, principally in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles.

  • Capital: Edinburgh
  • Currency: Pound sterling