Medicosnext
Words by Anutara Shakya
Stolen idols echo silenced stories, their return a beacon of hope for Nepal’s lost heritage. The theft of idols isn’t just about missing objects; it’s a fracture in our cultural identity, leaving broken faith in its wake. Through vigilance and online activism, lost idols find a voice and their way back to Nepal’s sacred temples.
In January of 2002, the bust of a Buddhist deity, the Dipankar Buddha was stolen from a home that was entrusted with its care in Nagbahal, Patan. Five months later, it reemerged in Germany, where a man tried to sell it to Christian Schickelgruber, an art curator at The Museum of Social Anthropology, Vienna. When Christian saw the image of the Buddha’s bust, complete with its bejeweled crown, he suspected that something was not right. Thus, with the help of Alexander Von Rospatt, a professor of Buddhist and Asian Studies and the late Min Bahadur Shakya, a Buddhist scholar specializing in Buddhist iconography, they were able to trace it back to the missing Dipankar Buddha statue of Nagbahal. Two years later, it was returned to its rightful place back home.
I remember this story because I was present when the deity received a ceremonial welcome back into its community. Even as a nine-year old, I could sense how the statue held so much religious and sentimental value for the people of the community. That was also when I learned about the issue of stolen idols of Nepal. But the story of the Dipankar buddha is only one of the few that received a happy ending. There are still countless lost idols of Nepal that are yet to be returned to their respective temples in Nepal.
Nepal is known for its unique art and crafts. Kathmandu still holds a title as the home to incomparable handicrafts such as metal repousse work, wood craft, stone carving and Thang ka (also known as Paubha) paintings. The temples in and around Kathmandu are full of idols of gods and goddesses that were created by hand by these artists. These idols date back centuries and often hold religious significance. Most of them also hold historical value as they provide a window into the ancient civilizations.
However, their unique artistry and history also makes them a target for art thieves. Stolen idols are not a new story in Nepal. In every locality, you will hear a story of how an old idol was stolen so it was replaced by a new one. Or how one day the idol was still there but the next day it simply seemed to disappear. Sometimes these statues are mercilessly beheaded to make them easier to smuggle outside the country. And what is left behind is a god with no head and the people’s broken faith.
Theft of ancient artifacts in Nepal has always been a big issue. There are many reasons for this. The country’s lack of border security, the need for historical preservation and the lack of knowledge and expertise in the people. For many, idols and statues of the gods are a subject of reverence. Hence, they are situated in temples that are made accessible for all to worship. However, this same accessibility has made it easier for it to be stolen easily. These artifacts often emerge in museums of foreign countries such as the USA, France, Germany and Singapore.
Lost Arts of Nepal, a social media page has been documenting stolen idols from Nepal that have been identified in museums and private collections of millionaires and billionaires. The page which has over 23000 followers on Facebook has been listing all kinds of stolen artistic heritage complete with the date of auction and where it was sold. This page has helped many within the country and outside to learn about the illegal buying and selling of historical and religious artifacts. It has also become a catalyst in bringing lost idols back home.
Similarly, other heritage enthusiasts are working to get these ancient idols identified and returned to their rightful place. There are many resources that one can refer to for information. Such as the Global Nepali Museum website which keeps a record of artifacts that have been identified abroad and news related to the subject. Similarly, Rabindra Puri, a heritage conservationist has established the Museum of Stolen Art, currently in Bhaktapur which displays replicas of 50 such stolen artifacts.
With the access to the internet, it has become easier to recognize the stolen heritages through museum websites and online catalogs for historical artifacts. With heritage crusaders and the government pressuring the return of these priceless treasures, many museums have obliged and have begun the process of returning the artifacts back to Nepal. With museums becoming more aware of stolen idols, they have begun to do a thorough background check on the items that come their way. This has made it more difficult for art thieves to steal and sell these items to the west. However, others are not so willing.
A new market has emerged for these lost idols, private collectors in Asia are now becoming the next opportunity for stolen antiquities. There is no telling exactly how many idols of gods have been stolen from Nepal. The number can be in thousands. However, if the general public can get more information about this subject and understand the importance of preserving our heritage. It is certain that we can pressurize the government and the international community to return these stolen heritages.
