The Hague

The Netherlands on Saturday formally returned the 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a significant cultural milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday after a brief visit to the UAE, as part of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.

India has been seeking the return of the Anaimangalam Copper Plates, popularly known in the Netherlands as the Leiden Plates, since 2012.

The 21 copper plates are regarded as among the most important surviving historical records of the Chola dynasty and are considered a major part of Tamil heritage preserved outside India.

Dating back to the reign of Rajaraja Chola I, the copper plates collectively weigh around 30 kilograms and are fastened together by a bronze ring carrying the royal Chola seal.

The inscriptions are divided into two parts, with one section written in Sanskrit and the other in Tamil.

Historical records indicate that Rajaraja Chola I, a Hindu emperor, had granted revenue endowments for a Buddhist monastery. While the original orders were reportedly recorded on palm leaves, his son Rajendra Chola I later ensured the grant was inscribed onto copper plates for long-term preservation. The bronze seal binding the plates also bears Rajendra Chola I’s insignia.

The artefacts were taken to the Netherlands in the 18th century by Florentius Camper, who had travelled to India as part of a Christian missionary group during the period when Nagapattinam was under Dutch control.

The return process gained momentum after the 24th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Return and Restitution acknowledged India’s claim as the country of origin and encouraged constructive bilateral dialogue between the two sides regarding the artefacts’ repatriation.

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The Netherlands decided to hand over the plates during Prime Minister Modi’s ongoing visit, reflecting the growing cultural and diplomatic partnership between the two nations.