Netherlands returns 11th-Century Chola Copper Plates to India

The Netherlands on Saturday handed back 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India, in an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, signifying the strengthening of ties between the two countries. PM Modi was presented with the historic Chola Copper Plates by authorities of Leiden University during his official visit to the Netherlands. The return of the priceless artefacts marks a landmark moment in India-Netherlands cultural cooperation and heritage restitution.
Known as the Leiden Copper Plates, the royal charters had been preserved for over a century at the University’s Asian Library. The collection consists of 21 large and three small copper plates bound by a bronze ring bearing the seal of Chola king Rajendra Chola I. Five plates contain inscriptions in Sanskrit, while sixteen are inscribed in Tamil. Another set of plates, carrying the seal of Kulottunga Chola I, also contains Tamil inscriptions.

The copper plates are regarded as one of the most valuable records of the Chola Empire, detailing its administration, taxation, land reforms, irrigation systems, and trade practices. The inscriptions also highlight the dynasty’s religious harmony, recording the grant of Anaimangalam village for a Buddhist vihara established by the Srivijaya rulers of Southeast Asia. Historians believe the plates provide rare evidence of strong maritime, diplomatic, and cultural links between South and Southeast Asia nearly a thousand years ago.

India has been pursuing the return of the Anaimangalam Copper Plates, known in the Netherlands as the Leiden Plates, since 2012.Along with the artefacts, Leiden University will also hand over archival records, metadata, and related correspondence to India.