Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the historic 11th-century Chola Copper Plates during his official visit to the Netherlands, marking a major milestone in cultural cooperation and heritage restitution between India and the Netherlands. The rare artefacts, preserved for more than a century at Leiden University, were formally handed over to India by university authorities.
Known as the Leiden Copper Plates, the collection includes 21 large and three small copper plates bound by a bronze ring carrying the seal of Chola ruler Rajendra Chola I. The inscriptions, written in both Sanskrit and Tamil, are considered among the most significant records of the Chola Empire.
The plates provide valuable insights into the empire’s governance, taxation, irrigation systems, land administration, and trade networks. They also reflect the Chola dynasty’s religious harmony, documenting the grant of a village for a Buddhist vihara established by the Srivijaya rulers of Southeast Asia.
Leiden University will also transfer archival records, metadata, and related historical correspondence to India along with the artefacts. Source: News On Air
