"Gripped by deep fascination with Chola-era copper plates brought back to India": PM Modi
New Delhi, May 31
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed "deep fascination" with the repatriation of the 11th-century Chola-era copper plates from the Netherlands to India after more than 300 years.
Referring to his address in the radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi posted on X, "Ever since I returned from the Netherlands, I've been gripped by a deep fascination with the Chola-era copper plates that were brought back to India. Therefore, in the #MannKiBaat program, I spoke about them, and also elaborated on the three rare copper plates recently discovered in Chhattisgarh."
During Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said, "Ancient copper plates from the Chola period were returned to India at a special ceremony held in the Netherlands. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands was also present at the event. I am constantly receiving messages from India and abroad regarding these copper plates. People are expressing happiness and pride. There is also special enthusiasm among the Tamil community around the world."
He added that the 21 large and three small copper plates describe the achievements of the Chola dynasty.
"These include 21 large and three small copper plates. These are primarily related to King Rajendra Chola I fulfilling a promise made by his father, King Rajaraja Chola. They mention the donation of the village of Anaimangalam to a Buddhist monastery. These copper plates also describe the achievements of the Chola dynasty," PM Modi said in his radio programme.
The plates record the permanent land and revenue grant of the Anaimangalam village near Nagapattinam for the upkeep of the Buddhist Vihara, Chudamani Vihara, built by the ruler of Srivijaya, Sri Mara Vijayottungavarman, with permission from the Chola king, Rajaraja Chola. Rajaraja had issued the order verbally, and his son, Rajendra Chola, had the order formally engraved on copper plates so that the grant would have permanent legal and royal authority.
Earlier in May, India secured the repatriation of the historic 11th-century 'Chola Plates' from the Netherlands. The invaluable artefacts were officially handed back at a high-profile ceremony in the presence of Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an American who loves history, this is genuinely fascinating. The fact that these copper plates describe land grants to a Buddhist monastery built with permission from the Chola king shows how progressive and multicultural ancient India was. It's wonderful that PM Modi personally took interest in this repatriation. History should unite us, not divide.
I'm from Tamil Nadu and this makes me emotional. 😢 चोल साम्राज्य का इतिहास हमारी पहचान है। 11वीं शताब्दी के ये रिकॉर्ड बताते हैं कि हमारे पूर्वज कितने दूरदर्शी थे। अच्छा हुआ कि सरकार ने इन्हें वापस लाने में सफलता पाई। लेकिन मैं यह भी उम्मीद करती हूं कि इन पट्टियों को सही तरीके से संग्रहालय में रखा जाए और आम जनता के लिए सुलभ बनाया जाए, न कि किसी गोदाम में बंद कर दिया जाए।
PM Modi की दिलचस्पी सराहनीय है, लेकिन क्या यह सिर्फ फोटो ऑप और Mann Ki Baat के लिए है? 🤔 जब हजारों साल पुरानी मूर्तियां और पांडुलिपियां देश से तस्करी कर ले जाई जाती हैं, तब सरकार क्यों आंखें बंद कर लेती है? ये चोला प्लेट्स वापस लाना अच्छी बात है, पर अब इनका अध्ययन और संरक्षण सुनिश
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