External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar presided over a repatriation ceremony in London for two 8th-century temple idols that were stolen from India and recently discovered in England. The idols, named Yogini Chamunda and Yogini Gomukhi, were stolen from a temple in Lokhari, Uttar Pradesh between the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were recovered by the High Commission of India in London with support from the India Pride Project and Art Recovery International. Jaishankar unveiled the idols at India House on the final day of his visit to the UK and expressed his anticipation for their return to India.

Jaishankar Presided over Repatriation of Stolen Idol from UK #Jaishankar #EAM #idoltheft #asi pic.twitter.com/LvQdYrwrfy

— Chanakyaa English (@ChanakyaaEn) November 16, 2023

During the ceremony, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of legal, transparent, and rules-based cultural exchanges, stating that it is unacceptable for cultural heritage to be stolen in this day and age. The term "Yogini" refers to female masters of the yogic arts. The Lokhari temple is believed to have had 20 Yogini statues, representing beautiful women with animal heads. In the 1970s, the temple was targeted by a group of robbers who smuggled stolen goods into Europe via Switzerland. The recovered idols represent the fifth successful restitution of cultural heritage to India. Chris Marinello of Art Recovery International highlighted the organization's collaboration with the India Pride Project in identifying and negotiating the return of stolen artifacts to India.

Jaspreet Singh Sukhija, First Secretary, Trade and Economics at the Indian High Commission in London, worked closely with the India Pride Project to facilitate the restitution of the idols. Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, emphasized the objective of finding acceptable and amicable solutions to return cultural heritage to its rightful place. He stressed the importance of returning heritage to where it is most appropriate, where it originated, and where it is most appreciated. The repatriation of these idols follows a similar event in 2022, where an ancient goat-headed goddess idol that went missing from the Lokhari temple 40 years ago was recovered in London.

In 2020, three priceless idols of Lord Ram, Maa Sita, and Laxman, stolen from a Vishnu temple in Tamil Nadu in 1978, were returned to the Indian consulate in London. Additionally, a 600-year-old Nataraja idol worth Rs 30 crore, stolen 37 years ago from a temple in Chennai, was brought back to India in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also highlighted the success of his government in repatriating over 200 precious idols that were stolen and taken abroad since assuming office in 2014. These efforts demonstrate India's commitment to preserving and safeguarding its cultural heritage.