look news india
Oxford University News : Britain's famous Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze statue of a saint to India. It is said that this statue was stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu.
Indian High Commission's claim upheld
A statement issued by the University's Ashmolean Museum in the UK said that on March 11, 2024, the Oxford University Council upheld the Indian High Commission's claim to return the 16th century bronze statue of St. Tirumanakai Alvar from the Ashmolean Museum. The decision will now be submitted to the Charity Commission for approval.
Research reveals the origin of the statue
The 60 cm high statue of Saint Tirumankai Alwar was sculpted in 1967 by Dr. J.R. It was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford from Sotheby's auction house from the collection of a collector named Belmont (1886-1981). The museum says that in November last year, an independent researcher told them about the origin of the ancient statue, following which they alerted the Indian High Commission. The Indian government sent a formal request to the British Museum for the bronze statue stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu, which reached the British Museum through auction.