ASI Making Efforts To Repatriate Seven Copper-Plate Charters From the UK
The copper-plate charters with Edinburgh University Library include six from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and one from Gujarat.
Vijayawada: Archaeological Society of India (ASI) is making all efforts through the central government for repatriation of seven copper-plate charters of the 5th to 16th centuries common era (CE) to India from the Edinburgh University Library at Scotland in the United Kingdom.
Earlier, ASI succeeded in repatriating Leiden copper-plate charters from the Netherlands to India.
The copper-plate charters with Edinburgh University Library include six from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and one from Gujarat. These had been collected by Sir Waler Elliot in the 19th Century. Major Hans F. Eggeling donated the copper-plate charters to the Edinburgh University Library in 1947.
The seven copper plate charters are: Mangalur Charter of Pallava Maharaja Simhavarman II, 444 CE; Uruvapalli Charter of Pallava Maharaja Simhavarman II, 447 CE; Charter of Gurjara King Dadda II Prasantaraga, 638 CE; Charter of Western Chalukya Emperor Vijayaditya Satyasraya, 700 CE; Charter of Eastern Chalukya King Vijayaditya III, 9th Century CE; Charter of Vijayanagara Emperor Narasimha Raya II, 1504 CE; and Charter of Vijayanagara Emperor Sriranga II, 1508 CE.
Of the total seven copper-plate charters, three are from Guntur, two from Anantapur and one each from Kurnool and Gujarat. These copper-plate charters are considered to be an invaluable cultural treasure of India, throwing light on Indian history and culture.
The ASI is preparing a dossier with details of measurements of these seven copper plate charters, along with who donated to whom and when, so that it will be submitted to authorities at the Edinburgh University Library in the UK for verification of India’s claim of their ownership and to repatriate them.
ASI is of the opinion that once the dossier is prepared and sent to the library in the UK, talks could be held through the Indian Embassy authorities in the UK. The clearance for their repatriation may come and the seven copper-plate charters may be handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring them back to India.
Once these charters are back in India, the Prime Ministers’ Office may take a call to send them back to their places of origin in parts of AP and Gujarat for display in the respective archaeological museums.
ASI director (Epigraphy) K. Munirathnam Reddy said, “I am preparing a list of how many copper plates and inscribed slabs have been taken away from India, so that we can make efforts to bring them back to our nation.”