The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has recently declared its intention to return 15 Indian sculptures that were illicitly trafficked and subsequently sold to the museum. These collected artifacts, estimated to be from as early as the 1st century BCE to as late as the 11th century CE, include precious terracotta, copper, and stone pieces such as a Celestial Dancer (Apsara) of high value, a stone bust of Kamadeva, the God of Love, and a stone figure of a seated Svetambara Jina, both dated back to the 8th century CE. The museum also reported the removal of three Turkish art pieces from its Greek and Roman galleries.
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ethical Acquisition Policies
In the context of ethical acquisition of antiquities, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has pledged adherence to transparent and responsible purchasing practices. The museum has instated rigorous standards for new purchases and also for its robust existing collection. This is in line with the Antiquities (Export Control) Act passed by India in 1947, pre-Independence, which prohibited any unlicensed export of antiquities. Even today, the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972, supervised by the Archaeological Survey of India under the umbrella of the Union Ministry of Culture, oversees all matters of antiquities in India.
Indian Partition Refugee Assistance Scheme
The Central Government’s scheme of providing financial assistance to Hindu and Sikh families who migrated to India from West Punjab in Pakistan post the 1947 partition has encountered numerous obstacles. Out of the total 5,764 eligible families, only 903 have so far received the grant. The rest are still pending due to the absence of original documents like refugee cards, which are needed to process the claims. The scheme has also been tainted by corruption allegations and bribery demands from revenue officials. The current scheme, supervised by the J&K administration and funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been extended until March 31, 2024, with ₹25 crore allocated for the scheme in the 2023-24 budget.
‘Hue and Cry’ Notices in India
The Punjab government recently issued a ‘hue and cry notice’ against the fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh. This legal procedure, often linked with public outrage, has its origins back in England’s 13th and 14th-century policing system. Even in contemporary times, these notices are still used in India and other parts of the world to seek public assistance in locating missing persons or identifying suspects.
The Implications of Hush Money
In another international event, former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to face court charges related to a hush-money payment. This term refers to payments intended to mute individuals or institutions holding potentially damaging information or allegations against the payer.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024