Chennai, May 31:

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan on Sunday announced that the historic Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates, recently recovered from the Netherlands, will soon be brought back to Tamil Nadu, describing the development as a significant milestone in India’s efforts to reclaim and preserve its cultural heritage.

Speaking to reporters after participating in a programme related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat in Chennai, Murugan credited the Prime Minister for leading a sustained campaign to recover priceless Indian artefacts and historical treasures from across the world.

The Minister said the return of the renowned Leiden copper plates marks another important achievement in restoring India’s civilisational legacy and safeguarding valuable historical records for future generations.

“The Prime Minister has consistently worked towards bringing back India’s lost cultural treasures from abroad. Necessary steps are being taken to ensure that the recovered Chola-era copper plates are returned to their rightful place in Tamil Nadu at the earliest,” Murugan said.

The Anaimangalam copper plates, popularly known as the Leiden copper plates, are considered among the most significant inscriptions of the Chola period. Historians regard them as a valuable source of information on the reign of Emperor Rajaraja Chola I and the grants made to a Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam. The inscriptions offer important insights into the political, cultural and religious history of South India during the height of the Chola Empire.

Murugan also highlighted key themes discussed by Prime Minister Modi during the latest edition of Mann Ki Baat. He noted that the Prime Minister praised India’s emerging sporting talent and interacted with athletes Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur, appreciating their achievements in athletics.

The Minister further said Modi spoke about traditional summer practices across India, including the consumption of buttermilk and regional varieties of mangoes. He also lauded students of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya in Nagercoil, who reportedly raised Rs 40 lakh for the welfare of armed forces personnel by saving Re 1 a day.