On Thursday, an Italian collector voluntarily submitted the stone sculpture, a roughly 1,200-year-old artifact ‘Avalokiteshwara Padamapani,’ to the Indian Consulate General in Milan.
‘Avalokiteshwara Padamapani‘ is a Buddha statue that went missing from its shrine at the Devisthan Kundalpur Temple in Bihar, one of the country’s most prominent Buddhist pilgrimage destinations, approximately 20 years ago.Â
“The climate is changing for restitution,” stated Christopher A. Marinello, a lawyer who specializes in tracking down stolen and stolen art and assisted in the confiscation of the statue.
“Collectors are being criminally charged worldwide, and collections are being seized as more and more jurisdictions let it be known that it is unacceptable to possess looted and stolen art.”Â
The Indian Consulate General in Milan further said,
“The stone idol dates back to 8th-12th century. Avalokiteshwara is depicted standing, holding the stem of a blossoming lotus in his left hand.”
Avalokiteshwara is a Buddhist bodhisattva who represents all Buddhas’ compassion. Â
“It is learned that the said sculpture had briefly surfaced in the art market in France before being located in Milan, Italy. India Pride Project, Singapore, and Art Recovery International, London swiftly assisted in identification and return of the stolen idol,”
according to a statement issued by the consulate. Â
Edited By- Subbuthai Padma
Published By- Satheesh Kumar
