Netherlands Returns Chola Dynasty Plates to India

Why this is here: The copper plates are bound together by a bronze ring that bears the official seal of the Chola dynasty, signifying royal authority.

The Netherlands returned 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India during a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Netherlands. India has sought the return of these plates, known as the Leiden Plates, since 2012. The set consists of 21 large plates and three smaller ones, weighing roughly 30 kilograms and bound with a bronze ring bearing the Chola seal.

The plates document a land grant from Rajaraja Chola I to a Buddhist monastery. His son, Rajendra Chola I, later inscribed the grant on copper to ensure its preservation.

They contain text in both Tamil and Sanskrit, detailing royal charters and the Chola dynasty’s maritime power. Florentius Camper, a pastor, transported the plates to the Netherlands around 300 years ago while working in Dutch-controlled Nagapattinam.

Leiden University held the plates since the 19th century. The Intergovernmental Committee affirmed India’s rightful claim to the artifacts. While this repatriation marks a homecoming of Indian cultural heritage, questions remain about other artifacts still held abroad and the process of identifying and securing their return.