Ambassador Shridhar Khatri’s Remarks at the Handover Ceremony of the Wooden Artifacts, May 11, 2023
Namaste & Good-afternoon!
Deputy Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral, Homeland Security Investigations, Acting DAS Scott Urbom, Department of State, Officials from the:
. Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection,
. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs,
. Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
And Friends from the media,
Thank you for being here today to commemorate the hand-over of the wooden panel artifacts that were stolen from Nepal and finally recovered by the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security.
These wooden artifacts were stolen from Nepal almost 13 years ago and were illegally transported to Hawaii, United States. Today, on behalf of the Government of Nepal, it is a pleasure for me to receive these recovered art pieces from the US Government. The Embassy will make sure that these artifacts find its rightful place back home in Nepal.
The trove of these artworks includes altogether 39 engraved and painted wooden panels. I had seen pictures of these items before, but was astounded by their beauty when I saw them in person yesterday. I asked the DHS team who selected these four pieces as to how they have managed to choose some of the best ones. They told me that they had done so randomly This speaks a lot about the sublime quality of these collections, which you can get a glimpse from the separate photographs posted there.
These precious artworks are estimated to date back to the period between the 19th and 20th century. These artworks signify various aspects of Lord Buddha’s life and his teachings as well as the Buddhist religious and cultural values and practices. Sculptures and artifacts such as these are not just regarded as mere works of art in Nepal, but revered as religious icons that members of the relevant community revere as their cultural and spiritual identity. Whichever part of the world they originate such cultural artifacts are the treasure of mankind. This is precisely why our hand-over ceremony today is significant.
Let me take this opportunity to thank the US Government for its significant contribution in the restoration of some of the cultural heritages of Kathmandu Valley destroyed by the earthquake of 2015. The handover of the wooden panel artifacts is a part of this wider cultural cooperation between our two countries, which speaks volume of the depth and scope of our relationship.
Today, in this handover ceremony, I would like to applaud, in particular, the tremendous work both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State have done in facilitating the return of these artifacts. Special thanks go to members of the Homeland Security Investigations team, most notably Special Agents Evelyn Ramo, who handled the investigations until its eventual return. She has travelled all the way from Honolulu to Washington D.C. to attend this ceremony, and is here with us today. I also would like to thank Special Agent Paul Jarret of the Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities team, who confiscated these objects back in 2Ol0. Yesterday, he also helped us to set up these panels for display for the today’s ceremony.
I also came to know that Paul is retiring this year and Evelyn will be retiring even sooner at the end of this month. Part of today’s ceremony is dedicated to your extraordinary investigative works and untiring dedication. I wish you both a happy and fulfilling retirement life.
Before concluding, let me also take this opportunity to thank the media, art researchers, heritage recovery campaigners, as well as alert and dutiful citizens, both in Nepal and abroad, for their vital role in bringing this important matter into public awareness. The Embassy looks forward to receiving similar cooperation and support in the coming days as well.
Thank you.
