Australian Minister Announces Return Of Stolen Indian Artefacts

Australia's Home Affairs Minister and Arts Minister Tony Burke has made a strong commitment to returning unlawfully held Indian cultural artefacts, saying that keeping stolen items in institutions amounts to theft. Burke said the Australian government should not wait for formal requests from countries of origin and should proactively identify and return artefacts that were acquired through improper means. His remarks came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the return of several significant Indian artefacts during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit.

Speaking to NDTV, Burke said there are two categories of artefact returns — those Australia identifies independently as being unlawfully held and those requested by countries seeking the return of their cultural heritage. He emphasised that Australia should take the initiative in cases where institutions do not have a legitimate claim over historical objects. According to Burke, cultural property obtained unlawfully should not remain in collections simply because a formal demand has not yet been submitted.

Burke described the issue in strong ethical terms, stating that no country should accept theft as legitimate. He referred to the return of a Shiva idol previously held by the National Gallery of Australia as an example of the principle being applied. The minister said that once it was established that the institution had no rightful claim over the artefact, returning it was the appropriate course of action. He added that similar reasoning guided Australia's decision to return Indian cultural items.

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The minister linked the repatriation process to the broader relationship between Australia and India, describing the return of artefacts as a sign of trust and friendship between the two nations. He said cultural cooperation was only one part of a much wider strategic partnership but noted that such actions carried importance beyond symbolism. The recent returns are expected to strengthen cultural ties and encourage further discussions on heritage preservation.

During the conversation, Burke also shared his personal interest in Indian cinema, revealing that he attended the 25th-anniversary screening of the Bollywood film Lagaan during Prime Minister Modi's visit instead of attending a stadium event. He said he had watched the film several times and praised its message of unity and equality. Burke also mentioned films such as Tamil movie Anbe Sivam and praised the scale of RRR, highlighting his appreciation for Indian culture. His comments indicate that Australia views cultural repatriation as an important part of building goodwill and strengthening relations with India.

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