It is quite a known fact that India’s heritage suffered greatly during the times of British oppression. However, in a recent turn of events, Oxford University has agreed to return the 500-year-old bronze idol of Saint Tirumankai. The idol is considered to be a stolen artifact from a temple in Tamil Nadu. Currently placed in the Ashmolean Museum, the Council of the University of Oxford has finally recognized the claim made by the Indian High Commission.
The 16th-century bronze sculpture is now to be returned, and the decision is now to be submitted to the Charity Commission for further processing. The museum had acquired the statue at an auction in 1967. The original owner of the stolen artifact was collector Dr. JR Belmont.
The museum apparently was aware of the status and origin of the statue, as informed by an independent researcher in November 2023. After which, the museum promptly notified the Indian High Commission. Hopefully the 60-cm bronze sculpture will finally return home after being stolen and withheld on foreign soil for so long.
