Australian art gallery to return 2000 year old Buddha idol to India

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 11: Close on the heels of Germany returning an ancient Durga idol, an Australian art gallery has agreed to give a 2,000-year-old Buddha sculpture back to India.  The Sitting Buddha sculpture, whose roots could be traced to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, is currently with a national art gallery in Canberra, Australia, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials here said.  “Last week, the Australian art gallery intimated the Union Culture Ministry that they intend to return it.  The sculpture made of sandstone is an image, which is very unique to the Mathura region,” ASI sources said.  With the Canberra-based art gallery giving its consent, the ASI has requested the Ministry of Culture to send an official team to examine the antique idol dating to the first century. -PTI