The Latest

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India Talks Success on Recovering Antiquities

October 7, 2019

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam JaishankarIndia has recently seen an improvement in recovering its antiquities with the help of the United States Department of State.

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar sat down to discuss India’s foreign policy and newly re-elected Modi government at the Council on Foreign Relations. Antiquities Coalition Executive Director, Tess Davis, was able to ask him about India’s recent successes in recovering antiquities.

The Cultural Impact of Antiquities: How Artifacts Play a Key Role in Cultural Rebalancing

Foreign Minister Jaishankar mentioned that when significant events happen, antiquities tend to turn up and are returned to their rightful home.

The case he gave were of visiting prime ministers for the United States, Australia, and Germany. In each case, antiquities were returned to their homes. He believes the success that India has recently seen in recovering these artifacts has to do with the fact that India and the United States have pursued them more vigorously than before.

He also spoke about how rebalancing the world involves more than just an economic and political rebalancing. He states, “the rebalancing of the world is not just in economic and political terms, cultural rebalancing is equally important. Not stealing other people’s artifacts is a part of cultural rebalancing.”

Key Takeaways

  • India and the United States’ joint efforts to recover antiquities have seen great success, laying the groundwork for other nations to do the same.
  • Antiquities play a part in the rebalancing of the world, and their cultural impact will not be overlooked.
  • By combatting the illicit trade of antiquities, India and the United States hope to see stolen antiquities recovered. 

Watch Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s full discussion:

Click Here
  • 1220 L Street NW
    Suite 100, Box 300
    Washington DC 20005
© 2023 The Antiquities Coalition. All Rights Reserved.