Return Telangana artefacts, demand activists

Hyderabad: Artefacts from the Telangana region that had earlier been shifted to museums on a temporary basis during cultural events in Seemandhra have reportedly not been brought back to the state.

If sources are to be believed, years ago, rare artefacts excavated in the Telangana region were initially shifted from the State Archaeology Museum in Hyderabad to the Buddha Vanam Project at Nagarjunasagar, and from there to Amaravati Museum in Guntur.

A couple of members of the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (Intach) state that when Kalachakra (ceremony for Buddhists from all over the world, from January 3 to 15, 2006) was held at Amaravati, rare Buddhist sculptures were excavated from Karimnagar and Nalgonda. While these sculptures had to be returned after the event, only one Buddha statue was returned, after pressure from the locals.

Artefacts found in Kotilingala-Karimnagar were shifted to the Amaravati Museum. Buddhist sculptures excavated from Dhulikatta in Karimnagar, Vardhamanukota Phanigiri, and Panagal Museums in Nalgonda were also shifted.

Dr Jai Kishan, an Intach member said, “This is unacceptable. Irreparable damage is being done to Telangana history and heritage. Telangana leaders must take immediate steps to restore the treasures to their rightful place.”

Chandana Khan, special secretary and head of the archeological department said, “The department is documenting the required details and once this is done, further action will be taken.”