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Idol minds lead to smuggler's paradise

George Iype in New Delhi

Idols, antiques and artifacts in many ancient temples across central and south Indian states are being systematically plundered by organised gangs even as the government sits over a plan to enact new archaeological laws to protect the country's rich religious and cultural heritage.

Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation unearthed an international racket that smuggled out 32 idol heads belonging to Jain Tirthankaras, Nayaks and Nayikas from different temples in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

CBI officials have told the Archaeological Survey of India that thefts of antiques are frequent in many temples in places like Morena, Mathura, Gwalior, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Shivpuri, Guna, Bhind, Datia, Tikamgarh, Madras, Salem, Mangalore and Visakhapatnam across north and south Indian states.

CBI and ASI officials who have extensively probed the theft of idols and antiques from temples, churches, gurdwaras and mosques say it is time the central government enacted new archaeological laws to protect the religious places of worship in the country.

"Smuggling of antiques is on the increase in many Hindu temples in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. But the present laws in India are ineffective in preventing the theft of the country's religious and art heritage," an ASI official told Rediff On The NeT.

"It is sad that many valuable sculptures, coins, manuscripts, statues, paintings and ornaments from India are freely available in the European art markets," the official added.

Last year, a television documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation said stolen Indian artefacts are doing roaring business in the European and American markets.

The documentary tracked some medieval Hindu statues catalogued in London-based Sotheby's auction house to a small temple in Uttar Pradesh. It also alleged that smuggling of antiquated art objects from India is a flourishing business in European markets.

The BBC programme forced the Indian government to order the ASI to draft new laws to protect antiques' heritage in the country. But ASI officials say the government has been sitting over the draft law for more than one year now.

Idols, artifacts and antiques in India are now protected by the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act. The AATA, enacted in 1972, states that no art object over 100 years old can leave the country's shores.

But ASI officials say plundering of Indian antiques worth millions of dollars has been going on because the AATA is toothless.

According to the AATA, the ASI is the apex guardian of all art objects in the country. But archaeological officials say the ASI has no policing powers to prevent antiques from getting smuggled.

"The main loophole in the AATA is that it does not empower the police or the customs officials to check whether travellers visiting the country smuggle out art objects," an official said.

The new laws proposed by the ASI will empower customs and police personnel in ports and airports with the authority to screen all national and international travellers.

The laws will also require all the religious places of worship like temples, churches and mosques and museums to register their precious antique and artifact collections with the ASI.

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