Part 5/15:
Similarly, efforts in India and Nepal focus on specific items like ancient statues, temple carvings, and sacred relics. Activists and scholars argue that many of these artifacts were stolen decades ago, often during periods of political upheaval or weak law enforcement, and now reside in Western museums or private collections. For example, a bronze statue stolen from Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple in 1957 was later auctioned in London, and efforts are ongoing to prove its provenance and facilitate its return.