One-line summary: India renewed its diplomatic effort at the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting to repatriate the 11th-century Bhojshala-linked Vagdevi idol from the British Museum, amid differing interpretations of its identity as Saraswati or Jain Ambika.
NEWS: India renewed its diplomatic push at the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Bhopal to bring back the 11th-century Vagdevi idol from the British Museum, London.
ABOUT
- Idol: 11th-century white-marble sculpture linked to the Bhojshala complex, Dhar.
- Patron: Commissioned during the reign of King Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty.
- Identity: Indian scholars identify it as Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the British Museum catalogues it as Jain deity Ambika.
- Inscriptions: Mention King Bhoja, Vararuci/Dhanapala and sculptor Manathala.
- Excavation: Excavated from the ruins of Dhar’s old city palace in 1875 by Major General William Kincaid.
SIGNIFICANCE
- India seeks repatriation of the idol from the UK.
- The issue is linked to the Bhojshala complex and its historical/religious significance.
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court has recognized the disputed Bhojshala complex as a temple dedicated to the deity.