National Gallery hands three Tamil Nadu temple artefacts to India
A Bhadrakali trident, a granite Nandi and a six-headed Karthikeya are set to return to India after a handover at the Indian mission in Canberra.
The National Gallery of Australia has formally handed three ancient artefacts from Tamil Nadu to the High Commission of India in Canberra, which says it is now arranging their transfer to India. The Australia Today reported the handover took place on 11 November, with India's High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, joining the exchange.
The objects are a bronze trident associated with the Goddess Bhadrakali, a granite sculpture of Nandi and a basalt sculpture of the six-headed deity Karthikeya, also known as Skanda. The Indian Sun and The Australia Today both reported that the High Commission had taken formal possession and acknowledged the gallery's cooperation.
According to The Australia Today, the trident and the Nandi are associated with the Shri Kashi Vishwanatha Swami Temple in Kulum Manguri and date from the Chola to Vijayanagara period, between the 13th and 16th centuries. The Karthikeya is an early 11th century Chola-period work linked to the Naganatha Swami Temple in Manambari, in Thanjavur district.
In its statement, the High Commission said that "through its sustained efforts, the High Commission of India in Australia has formally taken over and is transferring the three precious Indian artefacts to India." It said the objects would soon arrive in India.
The return follows a commitment by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the third Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne. The Australia Today dated Mr Albanese's announcement to 9 July, when he said Australia would voluntarily return several culturally significant objects held by the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The Indian Sun reported that the summit's joint statement identified the three objects as being of Tamil Nadu origin and said they would be transported to India in due course.
The arrangement runs both ways. At the same summit, India agreed to voluntarily and unconditionally repatriate the remains of an Australian First Nations ancestor held at the Government Museum in Chennai to their Traditional Custodians. The Australia Today reported that Mr Albanese described the return of First Nations ancestors as an important step towards healing, justice and reconciliation.
The National Gallery of Australia says it has voluntarily repatriated more than 270 works from its collection since 2014, 35 of them to India, as part of its commitment to ethical collecting and responsible collection management, The Australia Today reported.
Neither outlet gave a date for the artefacts' arrival in India. The Indian Sun said they are expected to be transported from Canberra in the coming period.
Sources: The Indian Sun, Australia hands over three Indian artefacts for return to India; The Australia Today, Australia returns ancient Indian artefacts, including six-headed Karthikeya, Bhadrakali trident and Nandi idol.
