Oxford University to Return Stolen 500-Year-Old Bronze Idol to India
In a significant move towards restitution, the prestigious Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze idol of Saint Tirumankai Alvar to India. This decision marks an important step in the ongoing efforts to repatriate cultural artifacts to their countries of origin. The bronze statue, which stands at 60 centimeters tall, was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford from Sotheby’s auction house in 1967. The statue had been part of the collection of Dr. JR Belmont, a collector whose lifespan extended from 1886 to 1981. However, the origins of the statue were brought into question last November by an independent researcher who alerted the museum to its potentially stolen status. Subsequently, the museum notified the Indian High Commission, prompting the Indian government to make a formal request for the statue's return. The bronze idol is believed to have been stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu before making its way to the UK....
