NEW DELHI: In a landmark moment for India’s cultural diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received the priceless 11th-century Anaimangalam Chola Copper Plates from the Netherlands, marking their triumphant homecoming after nearly three centuries abroad.

The formal handover ceremony took place during PM Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten personally handing over the ancient artefacts. The plates, famously known as the Leiden Plates, were housed at Leiden University for over 300 years. Their return is being hailed as a major victory in India’s sustained global campaign to repatriate stolen or misplaced cultural treasures.

The Anaimangalam Copper Plates, consisting of 21 copper sheets weighing around 30 kg and held together by a bronze ring with the royal tiger seal of the Chola dynasty, date back to the reign of Emperor Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE) and his son Rajendra Chola I. Inscribed in both Tamil and Sanskrit, these plates record significant land grants made by the Chola rulers. They detail the donation of revenue from villages near Anaimangalam in Tamil Nadu to support the Chudamani Vihara, a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam, established at the request of the ruler of Srivijaya (present-day Indonesia). 

This extraordinary artefact offers rare insights into the Chola Empire’s sophisticated administration, land revenue system, religious tolerance, and extensive maritime trade links with Southeast Asia. Historians consider it one of the most important epigraphic records of medieval South India, highlighting the golden era of Tamil culture, architecture, and diplomacy.

Speaking after receiving the plates, Prime Minister Modi described the moment as deeply emotional. “These copper plates are not mere historical documents; they are the voice of our ancestors, carrying the glory of the Chola empire that once ruled the seas. Their return symbolises India’s civilisational resurgence,” he said. Modi thanked the Netherlands for their cooperation and praised the joint efforts of archaeologists, diplomats, and cultural experts who worked tirelessly for this repatriation.

The plates were reportedly taken out of India during the colonial period and reached Leiden University in the 18th century. India had been seeking their return since 2012, with intensified efforts under the Modi government’s cultural heritage restitution initiative. Since 2014, India has successfully brought back over 640 antiquities from various countries.

Union Culture Minister described the return as “a proud moment for every Indian, especially the people of Tamil Nadu.” The artefacts will now be housed at a prominent museum in Tamil Nadu, where they will be displayed for public viewing and further research.

This successful repatriation is expected to strengthen Indo-Dutch cultural ties and set a positive precedent for future returns of Indian heritage items currently held in foreign museums. The event perfectly complemented the strategic partnership agreements signed between India and the Netherlands during the visit.