6 Saviour of National Heritage · 6 Saviour of National Heritage Ours is a great culture – 'the...

Saviour of National Heritage6

Ours is a great culture – 'the oldest and most consistent on earth'. It is a very interesting

phenomenon where action is, in the words of Sir Percival Spear, 'ritual, all art is

symbolic of religious ideas, all worship is an expression of life, all

life is a facet of the eternal'.

Celebrated in exquisite verses in thousands

of books and millions of minds, it can

be abbreviated, for a man in a hurry to

comprehend it, in three words – truth, love and

compassion.

In the near-to-ideal milieu, creativity has

always been the hallmark of our 'being'. We have

been experiencing its most glorious forms all

through history. Small wonder, then, some of

the best in art, architecture and literature in the

world bear our touch/stamp. Shah Jahan,

the-last-but-one of the 'Great Mughals' on the

throne of Hindustan, was, they say, so overjoyed

on seeing his dream – Red Fort, Delhi – come true

that he shouted at the top of his voice :

“If there be a paradise on earth,

it's this, it's this, it's this !”

To immortalize the royal reaction, the

couplet was inscribed on the wall of the

Diwan-i-Am. We have countless such magnificent

creations, which may not be like 'paradise', but

have formidable credentials. We have had

priceless sculptures and statues, paintings and

portrayals, coins and manuscripts in abundance

throughout the country. The foreign invaders and

barbarians destroyed a lot of this valuable

treasure. The looters, plunderers and smugglers

took away no less.

And yet, fortunately, a good measure of

it has survived.

This antiquity is a Nut Cracker in metal depicting a horse head with big open eyes and a pair of teeth on both upper thand lower jaws and relates to 18 century A.D. Presently, it is at CBI Museum.

153 ....In Service of the Nation....

Mythological painting of Raja Ravi Verma depicting a scene of the Kewat (Boatman) crossing Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Laxmana from ‘Ramayana’, which

was recovered by CBI (presently exhibited at National Museum)

That is our priceless speculum! Our great

heritage! Its safety, security, preservation and

conservation is, therefore, our prime

responsibility. There are several laws on the

Statute Book that may help us in this regard. Still

this valuable treasure is not safe. In the past, the

undesirable elements have never missed any

convenient opportunity to lay their hands on it.

Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906)

Mythological painting of Raja Ravi Verma depicting a scene of the Kewat (Boatman) crossing Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Laxmana from ‘Ramayana’, which

was recovered by CBI (presently exhibited at National Museum)

That is our priceless speculum! Our great

heritage! Its safety, security, preservation and

conservation is, therefore, our prime

responsibility. There are several laws on the

Statute Book that may help us in this regard. Still

this valuable treasure is not safe. In the past, the

undesirable elements have never missed any

convenient opportunity to lay their hands on it.

Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906)

The CBI has tackled hundreds of cases of theft and

smuggling of these national treasures ever since its inception.

These cases were, in many ways, very difficult – complex and

complicated. Some of these had their links with the international

gangs. In several cases, the stolen material had also reached

foreign countries. But, thanks to its hard work and professional

approach, the CBI succeeded in catching most of the culprits and

getting back the valuable articles. Had it been lost, we would

have been, in matter of history and heritage, many a notch

poorer!

From priceless paintings of Raja Ravi Verma and 1,400

paintings of the Mughal period to the antique stone and metallic

sculptures belonging to different period of history, CBI has saved

these national treasures from being smuggled or destroyed . In

1980, 47 antiques were seized from Delhi. In 2008, it recovered

the “Dancing Ganesha” from a godown in Pandav Nagar, New

Delhi, while it was awaiting its turn for illegal export.

While in 2005, dancing females of late Renaissance style, a

‘Nut cracker’ in metal and many other antiques were recovered

from Delhi, Gurgaon and other locations.

Painting of Raja Ravi Verma depicting Lord Ganesha with his escorts

Riddhi and Siddhi (above) and the Shiva Parivar (right) which were

recovered by CBI (presently exhibited at National Gallery for Modern Art).

Painting of Raja Ravi

Verma depicting Lord

Krishna and Rukmani.

It was also recovered

by CBI (presently

exhibited at National

Gallery of Modern

The CBI has tackled hundreds of cases of theft and

smuggling of these national treasures ever since its inception.

These cases were, in many ways, very difficult – complex and

complicated. Some of these had their links with the international

gangs. In several cases, the stolen material had also reached

foreign countries. But, thanks to its hard work and professional

approach, the CBI succeeded in catching most of the culprits and

getting back the valuable articles. Had it been lost, we would

have been, in matter of history and heritage, many a notch

poorer!

From priceless paintings of Raja Ravi Verma and 1,400

paintings of the Mughal period to the antique stone and metallic

sculptures belonging to different period of history, CBI has saved

these national treasures from being smuggled or destroyed . In

1980, 47 antiques were seized from Delhi. In 2008, it recovered

the “Dancing Ganesha” from a godown in Pandav Nagar, New

Delhi, while it was awaiting its turn for illegal export.

While in 2005, dancing females of late Renaissance style, a

‘Nut cracker’ in metal and many other antiques were recovered

from Delhi, Gurgaon and other locations.

Painting of Raja Ravi Verma depicting Lord Ganesha with his escorts

Riddhi and Siddhi (above) and the Shiva Parivar (right) which were

recovered by CBI (presently exhibited at National Gallery for Modern Art).

Painting of Raja Ravi

Verma depicting Lord

Krishna and Rukmani.

It was also recovered

by CBI (presently

exhibited at National

Gallery of Modern

Paintings of Raja Ravi Verma depicting

‘Nand Gopal - Krishna’, recovered by CBI

(presently exhibited at National Gallery of Modern Art).

The last, incomplete painting of Raja Ravi Verma depicting Krishna

killing Kansa, a scene from Mahabharata.

Paintings of Raja Ravi Verma depicting

‘Nand Gopal - Krishna’, recovered by CBI

(presently exhibited at National Gallery of Modern Art).

The last, incomplete painting of Raja Ravi Verma depicting Krishna

killing Kansa, a scene from Mahabharata.

Mohini on swing : Painting of

Raja Ravi Verma recovered by

CBI (presently exhibited at

National Gallery of Modern

A woman on swing: Painting of

Raja Ravi Verma recovered by CBI

(Presently exhibited at National

Museum)

Lord Dattatreya - a painting by

Raja Ravi Verma, recovered by CBI

A woman on swzing: Painting of

Raja Ravi Verma recovered

Mohini on swing : Painting of

Raja Ravi Verma recovered by

CBI (presently exhibited at

National Gallery of Modern

A woman on swing: Painting of

Raja Ravi Verma recovered by CBI

(Presently exhibited at National

Museum)

Lord Dattatreya - a painting by

Raja Ravi Verma, recovered by CBI

A woman on swzing: Painting of

Raja Ravi Verma recovered

Courtesy : R.K. Laxman

They are right, sir. There is corruption in the police force, I didn’t bring it to your notice because youwere busy defending yourself against the pay-off allegation.

Where is the cash? Silly boy, didn’t you read the morning paper?Courtesy : R.K. Laxman

They are right, sir. There is corruption in the police force, I didn’t bring it to your notice because youwere busy defending yourself against the pay-off allegation.

Where is the cash? Silly boy, didn’t you read the morning paper?Courtesy : R.K. Laxman

An antique object depicting a knap with human face standingth on an elephant platform (19 c), recovered by CBI in 2005.

An antique copper water jug with

elephant (19th c), seized by CBI in 2005.

Stone sculpture of dancing Ganesha, which thbelongs to 15 c AD was recovered by CBI.

A stone sculpture, which is a fragmentary

medallion with a flying stone, was seized by

CBI in 1990. This sculpture was displayed by the accused on internet

for sale.

An antique object depicting a knap with human face standingth on an elephant platform (19 c), recovered by CBI in 2005.

An antique copper water jug with

elephant (19th c), seized by CBI in 2005.

Stone sculpture of dancing Ganesha, which thbelongs to 15 c AD was recovered by CBI.

A stone sculpture, which is a fragmentary

medallion with a flying stone, was seized by

CBI in 1990. This sculpture was displayed by the accused on internet

for sale.

Over 1,700 precious paintings of the Mughul

period were stolen in a burglary from the

storerooms of the City Palace, Jaipur. The

burglary was masterminded by the Director

of the City Palace Museum, who harnessed

the assistance of professional burglars

and thieves. The case, which was initially

investigated by the local Police, was

later transferred to the CBI. In the absence

of accurate records of paintings in the

Palace, investigation had to go back to

the records of the eighteenth century

stored in the archieves. Two of the principal

accused were arrested and about 1,400

paintings recovered. The case is under

investigation.

Rare artefact consisting of a male head with curly thhair in stone (18 c), recovered by CBI in 2009.

Fake Amin Pillars, which are replicas of the original pillars of Sunga period