Page 11 - Mann Ki Baat - English

are made of materials such as the returned artefacts. These
terracotta, stone, ivory, wood, are mainly from Northern and
copper and bronze. Many Southern India. Looking at these
of these are four thousand artefacts, one realises how
years old. The US has returned much attention our ancestors
artefacts dating back to 4000 paid to intricate detailing. They
years… those from the 19th had a great understanding of
century as well. These include art. Many of these artefacts were
vases, terracotta plaques of taken out of the country through
gods and goddesses, statues smuggling and other illegal
of Jain Tirthankaras, as well as means—this is a serious crime.
statues of Lord Buddha and Lord In a way, it is like destroying
Shri Krishna. Several animal our heritage, but I am very
statuettes are also among the happy that in the last decade,
returned items. From Jammu many such artefacts and many
and Kashmir, terracotta tiles elements of our ancient heritage
bearing male and female figures have been brought back home.
are very interesting. These Today, India is also working with
include bronze idols of Lord many countries in this direction.
Ganesha from Southern India as I believe that when we are proud
well. A large number of images of our heritage, the world also
of Lord Vishnu are also among respects it, and as a result of
that, today many countries are

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