A rare bronze statue of saint-poet Thirumangai Alwar, valued at several crores, will soon be repatriated from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, United Kingdom, to Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing CID (IWCID) confirmed the development, stating the statue was stolen from the Soundararaja Perumal Temple in Kumbakonam between 1957 and 1967.

The IWCID revealed that the statue was one of four valuable antique idols stolen during that period. The others include Kaalinga Narthana Krishnar, Vishnu, and Sridevi, which were sold by traffickers and smuggled abroad. Replicas of these idols have since been used for worship in the temple.





Inspector General of Police, R. Dhinakaran, stated that sustained investigations traced the Thirumangai Alwar statue to the Ashmolean Museum, where it was purchased in 1967. The other three idols were located in various museums across the United States. Collaborating with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and international authorities, efforts are underway to bring all the idols back to Tamil Nadu.

R. Sivakumar, Superintendent of Police, IWCID, noted that extensive scientific evidence had been collected to prove the idols' provenance. This evidence was crucial in convincing authorities abroad of the idols' rightful origins.

As part of the verification process, a representative from Oxford University recently conducted a due diligence visit to review the evidence and testimonies provided by the IWCID. The investigation conclusively established that the Thirumangai Alwar statue belonged to the Soundararaja Perumal Temple.

Following a detailed report submitted by the representative, the Council of the University of Oxford acknowledged that the statue had been illegally removed. The Ashmolean Museum has now agreed to repatriate the idol to Tamil Nadu.

Efforts to repatriate the remaining stolen idols continue, ensuring they return to their rightful places of worship. The IWCID remains dedicated to preserving Tamil Nadu’s cultural and spiritual heritage, ensuring that these treasures are restored to their original sanctuaries.

Source / Image Credit : UNITED NEWS OF INDIA, India Today