An ancient statue of a Bodhisattva made of Gandharan art was returned by Australia to Pakistan on Monday after being displayed at the National Gallery in Canberra. After an exhibition, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, the Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia, received it.
The relic, which is thought to have been created during the third and fourth century, was purchased by the Australian gallery in 2006 for a whopping $275,000, according to estimates. The current estimated value is $500,000.
The Gandharan artifact was given to Pakistan by the National Gallery of Australia during a ceremony conducted at the High Commission for Pakistan in Canberra. An international crime gang commanded by notorious Indian art collector Subhash Chandra Kapoor, who is currently facing criminal charges in New York and New Delhi for his role in the illegal art trade, illegally obtained and removed this wonderful historical work of art from Pakistan.
In 2006, Kapoor was given to the Australian National Gallery. Its ambiguous legal and ethical position and connection to Art of the Past were discovered by the gallery’s continuing Provenance Research Project, and they decided to deaccession it. The High Commission for Pakistan in Canberra has been collaborating closely with all the relevant Australian government agencies to identify and return any historical artworks that may have been forcibly removed from Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri called the ceremony a milestone since it highlighted the significance of the historical work of art’s legal and ethical components. He continued by saying that it was an example of how nations and institutions were working together in this crucial sector. Additionally, it emphasized the need for increased international legal and ethical framework and collaboration to combat the trade in historical works of art that have been stolen, illegally dug, illegally exported, or acquired unethically.
The high commissioner highlighted that Subash Chandra Kapoor’s criminal accusations must be used to identify and bring to justice international crime organizations that deal in historical works of art. He also complimented the National Gallery of Australia’s Provenance Research Project and its entire staff for making it possible for Pakistan to receive the historical work of art back. He also emphasized Pakistan’s rich, centuries-old civilizational heritage.
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He extended an invitation for them to travel to Pakistan and take in the country’s rich history, diversified culture, stunning scenery, delectable cuisine, and kind hospitality. Senior Australian government officials, Buddhist monks, diplomats, professors, and members of the media all attended the ceremony.
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