Modi wants manuscripts, not diamonds, returned to India

LONDON — The Indian government pushed back on reports it will mobilize diplomats and ministers to descend on Britain to secure the return of diamonds and thousands of artifacts taken during the colonial era.

Instead, Delhi would like to talk about the repatriation of objects beginning with “cooperation in manuscripts,” an Indian government representative with insight into the strategy, told POLITICO.

Govind Mohan, India’s culture secretary, is focused on “low-hanging fruit,” said the representative, who asked not to be identified so they could speak frankly, as India begins approaching nations holding antiquities that may have been looted or taken by force or coercion during the colonial era this year.

The hope is for “a process of retrieval of antiquities through bilateral cooperation and partnership, in a manner consistent with existing international arrangements,” the representative said. The return of looted artifacts is being undertaken globally by various countries.

The Indian government representative said it is “not true” that it is mobilizing ministerial and diplomatic staff to reclaim thousands of artifacts from Britain in a “reckoning” with the colonial past — including the Amaravati Marbles and one of the largest diamonds in the world, the Koh-i-Noor — as reported in The Telegraph last weekend.

The stunning diamond, given to Queen Victoria in the early 19th century by the East India Company following the annexation of the Punjab, is part of Britain’s crown jewels. King Charles III eschewed it for other gems during his coronation early this month after a spokesperson for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party said it “brings back painful memories of the colonial past.”

The diamond is “a symbol of conquest,” according to a Historic Palaces’ press release ahead of a new display of the crown jewels opening at the Tower of London next week.

Last week, POLITICO reported India would like “a suitable dialogue” and “result-oriented conversation” around the Koh-i-Noor and the restitution of other objects taken from temples that retain “huge emotive value” for Indians.

The British Museum is currently in a dialogue with Greece over a potential sharing arrangement for the Parthenon Marbles.

Britain and India are currently in talks for a trade deal and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to meet with Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit this weekend to discuss the deal and other bilateral issues.

India holds the G20 presidency and placed the issue of repatriation of antiquities on this year’s agenda when it displayed 20 restituted Indian artifacts during a meeting of culture ministers in February.

“India remains committed to work with international partners in building holistic and cooperative ties,” said the Indian government representative, “in which our shared history is an important pillar, but not the only one.”