Return of Leiden copper plates should spur more repatriation efforts, Indian archaeologists say

The return of the Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plate charter from the Netherlands this week marks a watershed in the history of the repatriation of India’s priceless bronzes, stone statues and carved temple pilasters, according to historians and archaeologists.

The artifacts, which have been in the possession of Leiden University for nearly two centuries and are popularly known as the Leiden Copper Plates, were unveiled at a ceremony in The Hague on Saturday (May 16) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.

“This is the first time that Chola period copper plates are being brought back to India,” said V. Vedachalam, an archaeologist who specializes in Pandya, Pallava and Chola copper plate records, welcoming the development. “We should try to bring the Velvikkudi copper plates issued by the Pandyan ruler Parantaka Nedunchadaiyan (reignal years 765-815 CE) from the British Museum in London to Tamil Nadu,” he added.

“A Permanent Record of Tamil History”

Former Tamil Nadu Archeology Minister Thangam Thenarasu, who is also a scholar of Chola history, said the Anaimangalam copper plate inscriptions are “permanent records of Tamil history, culture and grandeur of the Chola era”.

The late R. Nagaswamy, who was the director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, described the artefacts this way in a lecture in 2009: “One of the most important copper plates of Raja Raja Chola I (regal years 985-1014 CE) comes from Anaimangalam near Nagapattinam.”

The plates recorded the gift of Raja Raja Chola I in Anaimangalam village to the Buddha vihara, he said. This vihara was built by King Sri Mara Vijayotunga Varman of Java in the name of his father Sri Chudamani Varman and thus was called Chulamanivarma Vihara. Unfortunately, the vihara tower itself was demolished by Jesuit priests in 1867 with the permission of the colonial government of Madras.

How the Saiva Kings helped build the Buddhist Vihara

“These slabs are an interesting example of how a Saiva king helped build a Buddha vihara,” Nagaswamy said, according to an article published in The Hindu on December 25, 2009.

While Raja Raja Chola I ordered the construction of the Buddha vihara, it was his son Rajendra Chola I (reigned 1014-1044 CE) who carried out the order. This is mentioned on the larger Leiden plates, said Dr. Vedachalam. Chulamanivarma Vihara was also called Raja Raja Cholan Perumpalli (or great vihara), during the time of Rajendra Chola I.

“The Leiden copper plates… are a complete set of 21 large plates and three small plates. The large plates were committed to the writing of Rajendra Chola I in five Sanskrit plates and 16 Tamil plates, honoring the oral commitment of his father Raja Raja,” says K. Kirubanidhi in a book titled Epic saga of the temples and H2, Their art publishing in H203.

“Small plates in Tamil later executed by Kulottunga Chola I (reigned 1070-1120 AD) speak of additional grants made to the sangza associated with the vihara at Nagapattinam,” wrote Mr. Kirubanidhi.

Dr. Vedachalam added that two emissaries from the Javanese kingdom approached Kulottunga Chola I to ensure the execution of the order of Raja Raja Chola I. Kulottunga not only gave them this assurance but also provided the Chulamanivarma vihara with 4,500 kalams (a unit of measurement) of rice and land. This was in addition to Raja Raja Chola I’s grant of 8,943 kalam paddy.

Chola insignia

The Leiden plates were joined by a ring bearing the royal insignia of the Chola dynasty. These included a tiger, the royal emblem of the Cholas, two fishes of the Pandyas, a bow of the Cheras, two chamaras, a royal parasol, lamps and a swastika. The inclusion of two fish and a bow meant that the Cholas defeated the Pandyas and Cheras.

The larger Leiden plates bear the word ‘Anaimangalam’ in Tamil on the royal coat of arms and a short verse in Sanskrit in praise of Rajendra Chola I, said Dr. Vedachalam. On the small plates is a short stanza eulogizing Kulottunga Chola I.

Published – 17 May 2026 21:10 IST