Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has formally requested the return of the Pucangan Inscription during a meeting with India’s Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, at the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Brazil on Friday.

“The return of the Pucangan Inscription is vital to restoring our history and cultural identity,” he said in a statement on Saturday (9/11/2024).

The 11th-century inscription, also known as the 'Airlangga Stone,' was commissioned by King Airlangga of Java. It details significant historical events of the era.

Discovered by Stamford Raffles in the early 1800s, the inscription was later sent to India as a gift to Lord Minto, the British Governor-General. It has been housed at the Indian Museum in Kolkata ever since.

Minister Fadli emphasized that repatriating this artifact would not only restore a piece of Indonesia’s history but also strengthen cultural ties between the two nations. He suggested that the official handover could take place during President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to India in early 2025, as reported by antaranews.com.

Both nations also agreed to further cultural cooperation, including heritage restoration and cultural exchange programs.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)