Why in News?
The Chola Copper Plates are in news because the Netherlands has returned the 11th-century set of Chola-era copper plates to India, making this a major case of cultural restitution and heritage recovery.
About
- The plates are also known as the Leiden Plates in Europe.
- They are considered among the most important surviving records of the Chola dynasty and Tamil heritage outside India.
- The return is significant because India had been seeking their repatriation for years.
- Physical Specifications: The artifact collection consists of 21 large and 3 small copper plates that collectively weigh nearly 30 kilograms.
- The Royal Seal: All the plates are fastened together by a large bronze ring engraved with the royal seal and insignia of Emperor Rajendra Chola I.
- Bilingual Text: The inscriptions are divided into two distinct linguistic parts—Sanskrit and Tamil.
Historical & Administrative Significance
- The Content: The charters formalise the gifting and land revenue allocation of Anaimangalam village to support the Chudamani Vihara (a Buddhist monastery) located at the port city of Nagapattinam in modern-day Tamil Nadu.
- The Two Kings: The original land grant order was issued verbally by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. His son and successor, Rajendra Chola I, later had the edict permanently engraved onto durable copper plates to ensure its permanence.
- Genealogy Record: The Sanskrit portion of the text traces the detailed lineage and genealogy of the Chola dynasty, opening with praises to the Hindu deity Vishnu.
- Religious Coexistence: The artifact provides rare primary evidence of inter-faith harmony, showing how a Tamil Shaivite (Hindu) imperial court enthusiastically patronised and supported a Buddhist religious institution.
- Maritime Diplomacy: The monastery was built by the Malay king of the Srivijaya Empire (Southeast Asia). The plates prove the existence of deep maritime, political, and commercial trade networks across the Indian Ocean.
- Cultural Reference: These specific plates are so famous in Tamil culture that they are referenced in Kalki Krishnamurthy’s iconic historical novel, Ponniyin Selvan.
How They Reached the Netherlands?
- Colonial Removal: Around 1700–1712, a Dutch missionary and pastor named Florentius Camper acquired the plates on the Coromandel Coast when Nagapattinam was under the control of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
- Lack of Consent: A Dutch restitution committee recently concluded that the plates were removed from India without the consent of the rightful owners.
- The University Donation: In 1862, descendants of the Camper family donated these invaluable charters to the Leiden University, where they remained stored in secure academic facilities for over 160 years.
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