Spotlight: India Pride Project and the Future of Art Restitution in India

September 19, 2025

By Atreya Mathur

Imagine scrolling through Google Street View on your laptop, zooming in on an art gallery in New York, and among polished marble floors and glass display cases, you spot sculptures that should probably not be there. You see sculptures that were reported stolen years ago from temples in India, scattered across countries by illicit trafficking networks. While this sounds like the opening scene of an art heist thriller, for S. Vijay Kumar, co-founder of the India Pride Project (IPP), this was a very real moment where he virtually looked around a New York gallery and located two antique bronze statues with a market value of $8.5 million stolen from India by Shubhash Kapoor.^[1]

The India Pride Project is a global effort to track and reinstate India’s stolen-heritage.^[2] Founded in 2014 by S. Vijay Kumar and Anuraag Saxena, it has grown into an international network of art lovers and heritage activists who use historical documents, social media, and investigative techniques to track down stolen sacred artifacts from Indian temples and facilitate their return.^[3] The organisation has associates around the world and has been recognised by foreign governments, universities, and cultural institutions for its pioneering work in cultural restitution.^[4] The project comprises a core group of about a dozen members and 280 volunteers who pitch in ad-hoc.^[5]

Origins and Heart Behind the Project

The origins of the India Pride Project trace back well before it became a formal organisation. In 2006, S. Vijay Kumar’s fascination with India’s ancient heritage was sparked by a work of Tamil historical fiction.^[6] This turned into a personal quest and he travelled to historic temples and monuments, photographing and blogging about their artistry, symbolism, and craftsmanship.^[7] At first, his efforts were simply a way to record and share the cultural treasures he encountered. But as he revisited sites, he began to notice unsettling patterns, ornamental panels missing, sculptures inexplicably gone and architectural gaps where sacred gods once stood.^[8]

Driven by these observations, Kumar started tracking the global antiquities trade. He learned that artifacts from Indian heritage sites were turning up in galleries, auction houses, and private collections abroad, often in clear defiance of laws protecting cultural property, some dating back to colonial-era legislation in 1878. In many cases, these entities were able to skirt or exploit loopholes in those protections, for example, by relying on inadequate provenance documentation, using intermediary dealers in jurisdictions with weaker controls, or presenting objects as from old collections predating modern restrictions. In 2013, his path crossed with that of Anuraag Saxena, a Singapore-based chartered accountant and MBA with a shared passion for repatriating stolen heritage. Recognising that their scattered, volunteer-led interventions could have greater impact together, they formalised their collaboration in 2014 by launching the India Pride Project.^[9] “It’s all kinds of personal. If you look at the industry that peddles heritage art, they strip an object’s emotional value away and sell it only for its functional or aesthetic value. I get emails from people from small villages, saying ‘we had this temple; when my grandparents died they did their shraadh (last rites) there; my parents got married there; but now the deity is not there any more; can you help us get it back?’ They don’t look at it as a national crime or a heritage crime; it’s a personal loss.”^[10]

And while the name was new, the work was not. Both Kumar and Saxena had already spent years advising, investigating, and liaising with authorities and cultural institutions. By creating a more organised platform, they were able to enable deeper engagement with museums, law enforcement, and the media, as well as calling volunteers to participate in the project.

How the IPP Works to Track Looted and Smuggled Heritage

The India Pride Project operates at the intersection of archival research, open-source intelligence, and legal advocacy.^[11] “You’ll be quite surprised to know that, like matchmaking, today dealers use social media. Like prospective grooms searching for brides, these dealers are soliciting purchases, sharing robber photos on WhatsApp and social media.”^[12] Volunteers worldwide monitor auctions, museum catalogues, deaccession lists, and private collections, looking for anomalies or suspicious items.^[13] Every potential match is verified against historical records, photographs, and provenance documentation.^[14] Once confirmed, IPP prepares a detailed dossier, which is shared confidentially with law enforcement agencies, museums, or private owners to initiate recovery processes.

IPP’s work often complements formal law enforcement. In many cases, Indian authorities were historically slow or unresponsive, and international organisations began consulting IPP directly because of its deep knowledge of Indian artifacts and expertise in tracing them. “When worldwide organisations needed to check on an Indian artefact, they contacted Indian officials such as the Archaeological Survey of India and the customs, but the response from the Indian side was quite weak. So, after that, they began to approach us when they discovered that there is a group that has specific information and operates as a non-profit entity…We can know a lot about a statue or artefact merely by looking at it or the material used to make it. We inform the agencies about the article’s or region’s origin.”^[15] Further collaborations with agencies such as INTERPOL, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and foreign customs offices have enabled the recovery of numerous objects, including those stolen by notorious traffickers like Subhash Kapoor, whose apprehension in 2011 followed investigative work facilitated by IPP.

Other Recoveries of Ancient Artifacts facilitated by Indian Pride Project^[16]

Nalanda Buddha

The Nalanda Buddha, a small bronze statue dating to the twelfth century, was originally part of the Archaeological Survey of India’s site museum at Nalanda. The statue, which reflects the rich Buddhist iconography of the Pala-Sena period, was stolen in 1961 and disappeared into the international art market.^[17] Decades later, it surfaced in Europe, where it was identified by S. Vijay Kumar of the India Pride Project alongside Lynda Albertson of Association for Research into Crimes Against Art (ARCA).^[18] Kumar identified the statue by comparing contemporary photographs to ASI records and theft reports and thus produced the documentary evidence necessary for legal and diplomatic intervention. IPP coordinated with the Metropolitan Police and the Indian consulate to secure its return.^[19] In August 2018, the statue was formally handed over to the Indian High Commissioner in London during a ceremony timed with India’s Independence Day.^[20]

Yogini Statues

In early 2022, a 10th-century goat-headed Yogini statue, stolen from a temple in Lokhari village (Banda district, Uttar Pradesh) in the late 1970s or early 1980s, was recovered from a garden shed in England.^[21] The discovery was made when a salvage company was liquidating the belongings of an estate sale and, before selling, investigated the provenance of the items.^[22] The statue was then referred to Art Recovery International (ARI) founder Christopher Marinello, who identified it with help from IPP’s S. Vijay Kumar. Kumar matched the figure against archival imagery from Yogini Cult and Temples: A Tantric Tradition by Vidya Dehejia.^[23] ARI negotiated its unconditional return to India, and it was formally handed over to the Indian High Commissioner at India House, London.^[24] The idol was then dispatched to the Archaeological Survey of India for installation at the National Museum in New Delhi.^[25]

2021 United States Repatriation of 157 Artifacts

In 2021, the United States made a significant repatriation of 157 stolen Indian artifacts, marking one of the largest such returns.^[26] This handover occurred during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. and included a remarkable variety of pieces, from a 10th-century Revanta sandstone bas-relief to a 12th-century bronze Nataraja. Along with terracotta, stone, and metal artifacts spanning Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and secular traditions.^[27] The roles played by U.S. authorities, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, were critical in the seizures and returns of the artifacts. Similarly integral were the contributions of IPP as they supplied provenance dossiers and necessary archival documentation. The assistance lent to law enforcement by IPP and IPP’s contributions to diplomatic negotiations, further facilitated the returns.

The Impact of the IPP and its effect on Restitution in India

The India Pride Project has helped transform the landscape of cultural restitution in India by placing citizens and local communities at the center of heritage protection. Through its outreach, IPP encourages villagers, temple authorities, and enthusiasts to document statues and artifacts, preserve photographs, and promptly report thefts, whether recent or decades old. IPP also urges people who spot potentially stolen objects in museums or galleries to take photos and send them in, activating its global network of volunteers to trace provenance and facilitate returns. “In case a statue is stolen, report the theft to the local police station and reach out to us. Even if the case is 50 years old, report it to us and we will try our best to bring it back. Acknowledging the theft is the first step to its recovery,” says S. Vijay Kumar.^[28]

By combining both community vigilance with provenance research, IPP has helped shift the evidentiary standards for restitution away from vague ownership claims toward more verifiable documentation, which was not as strong in India. While criminal prosecutions against trafficking networks have provided deterrence and factual bases for repatriation, IPP’s work shows that enforcement alone is not enough. Civil negotiations, voluntary institutional returns, and diplomatic engagement are often more effective than such litigation.

The project also exposes gaps and loopholes in India’s legal framework to prevent illicit trafficking of artifacts. The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 remains poorly enforced, with temple thefts typically prosecuted under Section 380 of the Indian Penal Code, meant for ordinary theft, rather than through specialized heritage crime statutes. IPP’s citizen-driven model has filled some of these gaps by providing access to expertise, documentation, and international contacts that state agencies cannot always mobilize on their own.

Sign up as a volunteer with the India Pride Project HERE.

Center for Art Law is also hosting a program Efforts to Recover India’s Idols & Heritage: Modern Tools for Old Crimes featuring S. Vijyay Kumar, founder of the India Pride Project on September 24 (2025) at 11 am ET. Learn more HERE.

Suggested Readings and Videos

• The Idol Thief by S. Vijay Kumar
• The Idol Thief by S.Vijay Kumar : Book Release (Part 1)
• The Idol Thief by S.Vijay Kumar : Book Release (Part 2)

About the Author

Atreya Mathur is the Director of Legal Research at Center for Art Law.

Select Sources:

1. Looted and smuggled, how India is bringing Gods and glory home, India Today (July 27, 2024) available at https://www.indiatoday.in/sunday-special/story/repatriation-india-pride-project-looted-smuggled-gods-statues-colonial-rule-heritage-vijay-kumar-british-museums-2563311-2024-07-07 ↑
2. See India Pride Project, https://x.com/indiaprideproj?lang=en ↑
3. ‘We still prosecute temple heritage loot as house theft, need strict antiquity laws’: Vijay Kumar, the co-founder of India Pride Project speaks to OpIndia, OpIndia (17 May, 2022) available here https://www.opindia.com/2022/05/india-pride-project-vijay-kumar-stolen-idols-tracking-back-home-art-antiquity-laws-temples-gods-interview/ ↑
4. Id. ↑
5. Sharanya Gopinathan, Meet the Amateur Art Sleuths Fighting To Bring Back India’s Looted Cultural Heritage, Vice (Sept. 7, 2021) available here https://www.vice.com/en/article/india-pride-project-bringing-artefacts-back-from-colonisers-art-thieves/#:~:text=Saxena%20is%20one%20of%20the,who%20pitch%20in%20ad%2Dhoc. ↑
6. ‘We still prosecute temple heritage loot as house theft, need strict antiquity laws’: Vijay Kumar, the co-founder of India Pride Project speaks to OpIndia, OpIndia (17 May, 2022) available here https://www.opindia.com/2022/05/india-pride-project-vijay-kumar-stolen-idols-tracking-back-home-art-antiquity-laws-temples-gods-interview/ ↑
7. Id. ↑
8. Id. ↑
9. Id. ↑
10. Id. ↑
11. See Pia Krishnankutty, How stolen art detectives India Pride Project tracked down 265 artefacts, The Print (27 March, 2022) available at https://theprint.in/india/how-stolen-art-detectives-india-pride-project-tracked-down-265-artefacts/889814/ ↑
12. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2FT-N8UhCA ↑
13. See Pia Krishnankutty, How stolen art detectives India Pride Project tracked down 265 artefacts, The Print (27 March, 2022) available at https://theprint.in/india/how-stolen-art-detectives-india-pride-project-tracked-down-265-artefacts/889814/ ↑
14. Id. ↑
15. We still prosecute temple heritage loot as house theft, need strict antiquity laws’: Vijay Kumar, the co-founder of India Pride Project speaks to OpIndia, OpIndia (17 May, 2022) available here https://www.opindia.com/2022/05/india-pride-project-vijay-kumar-stolen-idols-tracking-back-home-art-antiquity-laws-temples-gods-interview/ ↑
16. Some of the key restitutions and identifications facilitated by Vijay Kumar have resulted in successful returns of significant cultural property to India. These include the restitution of the Vriddhachalam Ardhanari from the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia, the Sripuranthan Nataraja and Gupta-era Buddha from Australia, the Toledo Ganesha from the United States, the Barahma Barahmani from London, the Sripuranthan Uma from Singapore, and the Tengupura Durga from Germany. His work also contributed to the seizure of a Shiva and Parvathi sculpture from Ball State Museum in the United States, multiple seizures during Asia Week New York in 2016, and restitutions from institutions such as the Honolulu Museum and the Harn Museum. Additional returns include the Chandavaram worshippers of Buddha and the Vriddhachalam Pratyangira from Australia, the Vijayanagara-era pair of door guardians to Tamil Nadu, and a Vijayanagara-era Shiva Nataraja from Kulasekaram, Tamil Nadu. In July 2020, the Natesa sculpture was successfully restituted from London to India. Vijay Kumar also facilitated the restitution of the Nalanda Buddha from London and identified related Buddhas under claim from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Beyond these restitutions, he has provided over 57 positive identifications to the Archaeological Survey of India and law enforcement authorities, which are now part of ongoing claim processes in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and the United States. (Source: S. Vijay Kumar) ↑
17. Buddha statue returned to India 57 years after theft, The History Blog (Aug, 17, 2018) available at https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/52435?utm_source ↑
18. Id. ↑
19. Id. ↑
20. Id. ↑
21. Jo Lawson-Tancred, Two 10th-Century Stone Idols, Which Were Stolen From a Temple in India and Found in a Garden Shed in the U.K., Will Be Repatriated, artnet (Jul.12, 2023) available at ​​https://news.artnet.com/art-world/10th-century-idols-found-in-garden-shed-returned-to-india-2335670 ↑
22. Id. ↑
23. Id. ↑
24. Id. ↑
25. Id. ↑
26. 12th century Nataraj to 2nd century vase: US hands over 157 antiques to India, Indian Express (Sept. 26, 2021) available at https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-artefacts-antiquities-us-7534516/ ↑
27. Id. ↑
28. We still prosecute temple heritage loot as house theft, need strict antiquity laws’: Vijay Kumar, the co-founder of India Pride Project speaks to OpIndia, OpIndia (17 May, 2022) available here https://www.opindia.com/2022/05/india-pride-project-vijay-kumar-stolen-idols-tracking-back-home-art-antiquity-laws-temples-gods-interview/ ↑