Demand to bring Anaimangalam Chola era copper plates to Tamil Nadu gains momentum

The Anaimangalam Plates, currently in the possession of Leiden University, belong to the period of Rajendra Chola I and contain a decree originally issued by his father Raja Raja Chola I. | Photo credit: LINA SELG

The demand to return the Anaimangalam Chola era copper plates to Tamil Nadu has gained momentum. The plaques, currently owned by Leiden University in the Netherlands, were recently presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to The Hague.

Ne Venkatesan, a member of the Lok Sabha from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said that 654 antiquities from several countries, including the United States, were brought back to India and stored at the Purana Qila in New Delhi.

“But they are not on display for people to see. The same should not happen to the Anaimangalam copper plates. They should be handed over to the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department,” he said. The plates, belonging to the period of Rajendra Chola I, contain a decree originally issued by his father Raja Raja Chola I, granting the village of Anaimangalam as Pallichchandam. The grant was made to support Chudamani Vihara, a Buddhist monastery built in Nagapattinam.

Watching Anbil’s boards

Mr. Venkatesan also pointed out that the Anbil copper plates, which documented the genealogy of the Chola kings, could not be traced, even though their contents had been copied.

“While Leiden University has preserved the Anaimangalam plates, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has not been able to preserve the Anbil plates. ASI should try to trace them,” he said.

Call for public display

MDMK general secretary Vaiko also said that the plaques should be kept in the Nagapattinam museum.

R. Komagan, chairman of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Board, said the copper plates from Anaimangalam should be brought to Gangaikonda Cholapuram — which served as the capital of the Chola dynasty for nearly three centuries from the rule of Rajendra Chola I — and put on permanent public display.

“It can be safely displayed and preserved either in the ASI-owned buildings inside the temple complex or in areas like the temple mahamandapam,” he added.

Published – 17 May 2026 23:34 IST