Ambala: The Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) has intensified efforts to secure the repatriation of an 11th-century marble idol of Goddess Saraswati currently housed in the British Museum in London.HSHDB vice-chairman Dhuman Singh Kirmach stated that the ancient sculpture originally belonged to the historic Bhojshala Temple in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, and was taken to England by British authorities during the colonial period between 1886 and 1891.The board has contacted the Madhya Pradesh govt and informed Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini through official correspondence. The board aims to bring the idol back to India, showcase it across regions linked to the Saraswati civilisation, and permanently house it in the Saraswati Museum in Haryana.Kirmach noted that the repatriation effort gained momentum following a recent ruling by the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court, which recognized the Bhojshala complex as the ancient Saraswati Vagdevi Temple and granted Hindus the right to worship there. He added that the Centre’s successful repatriation of several stolen antiquities in recent years offers strong encouragement.Dating back to the Paramara dynasty, the idol was unearthed during British excavations in Dhar alongside a second idol, which remains at Bhojshala. Kirmach highlighted that the London sculpture features Sanskrit and Devanagari inscriptions that could offer valuable historical insights into the Saraswati River and ancient Indian heritage.Appealing to the Centre and related agencies for full support, Kirmach called the return of the sculpture a vital cultural responsibility.Ends MSID:: 132807905 413 |
