Historic Chola Treasure Repatriated
The Netherlands officially returned a set of 11th-century Chola-era copper plates to India on Saturday. The handover took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the European country.
The artifacts, known in Europe as the ‘Leiden Plates,’ are among the most valuable surviving records from the Chola Empire. India had been requesting their return since 2012.
The ceremony marked the success of years of diplomatic efforts and highlighted growing ties between India and the Netherlands.
Details of the Copper Plates
The collection includes 21 copper plates weighing nearly 30 kilograms. They are fastened with a bronze ring carrying the royal Chola seal. Part of the inscriptions is written in Sanskrit, while the rest is in Tamil.
The copper plates are from the reign of Emperor Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE). These plates are considered to be one of the significant Tamil heritages that have been preserved outside India.
The plates are for grants to a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam. They show cultural and religious exchanges during the Chola period and provide insight into maritime trade between South India and Southeast Asia.
From Dutch Custody to Diplomatic Return
In the 18th century, Florentius Camper, who worked with a Christian mission in India while Nagapattinam was under Dutch control, took the plates to the Netherlands.
For decades, the artifacts remained in secure Dutch facilities, mostly accessible to researchers. Over time, they became well known to historians and the public, including mentions in the famous Tamil novel, Ponniyin Selvan.
The Intergovernmental Committee on Return and Restitution supported India’s restitution claim and recognized India as the rightful country of origin.
PM Modi Announces Repatriation
Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, celebrated the return. “A joyous moment for every Indian! He wrote that the Netherlands will repatriate the 11th-century Chola copper plates to India.
The repatriation of the plates also added a cultural dimension to the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands.
Watch the post here:
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