Opinion | 'As Long As Shesha Sustains The Earth': The Story Of The Chola Leiden Plates

Updated: May 19, 2026 18:25 pm IST Published On May 19, 2026 18:25 pm IST Last Updated On May 19, 2026 18:25 pm IST

Published On May 19, 2026 18:25 pm IST

Last Updated On May 19, 2026 18:25 pm IST

In a major cultural restitution move, the Netherlands formally returned a set of 11th-century Chola-era copper plates to India on Saturday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the European country. The handover marked the culmination of years of diplomatic efforts by New Delhi.

The Aannaimangalam - or Leiden - plates consist of 21 copper plates held together by a massive bronze ring bearing the seal of Rājendra Chola I. This charter and another one (Or. 1688) were taken from India by Mr Florentius Camper (1675-1748), Minister of Faith in Batavia from 1703-1712. Both charters (Or. 1687, Or. 1688) came into the possession of his great-granddaughter Johanna Camper (1797-1835), who was married to Professor Hendrik Arent Hamaker (1789-1835), and were donated in 1862 by the successors to Hamaker's estate. The plates were probably excavated or acquired by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Nagapattinam between 1687 and 1700, and taken away. The Colonial Collections Committee concluded that the removal amounted to 'involuntary loss of possession' and recommended their unconditional return to India. Leiden University accepted the recommendation.

The Leiden Copper Plates feature royal charters from the Chola dynasty written in both Sanskrit and Tamil........

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