KATHMANDU: The Department of Archeology (DoA) is effortful to bring back idols, sculptures and artifacts that were stolen and illegally sold from Nepal over various periods of time.
Damodar Gautam, Director General of the Department, said that efforts were coordinated with the Nepali embassies abroad, Interpol and foreign museums to garner information regarding such stolen and sold Nepali artifacts so as to retrieve them. The Department is also coordinating with concerned authorities in the UK, the USA and France to reclaim such Nepali treasure troves that long have been in these countries.
Gautam shared that identification of country of origin of idols of Lord Ganesh and Thanka painting abroad becomes harder since both were found in India and Tibet respectively. Many museums abroad and many cultural and historical collectors were found to have kept idols, artifacts and religious materials under ‘Nepalese Collection’.
The government of Nepal came forward to bring back such cultural properties that were illegally exported or smuggled abroad. The Department, according to Gautam, faces human resources crunch which has also affected in bringing back such stolen heritages on time.
He shared that there are currently 25 staffers in the Department that are responsible for protecting and maintain archeological sites, ancient monuments including remains of national importance, museum and archive management.
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