British: Indian cultural artifacts stolen during British rule were returned by Britain

Glasgow: Glasgow held a ceremony on Friday to officially return seven Indian cultural artifacts looted during British colonial rule, a first for the UK Museum Service.

The dignitaries from the High Commission of India joined the members of Glasgow Life, which manages the Scottish city's museum collection, on the transfer of ownership ceremony, after more than 18 months of negotiations.

Six items were stolen from India in the 1800s, and a seventh was bought illegally after being stolen from its original owners.

All seven items were looted from sacred places such as temples and shrines and given as gifts to the Scottish city's museum collection.

“Glasgow has led repatriation efforts in the UK since 1998,” said Duncan Dornan, Head of Museums and Collections at Glasgow Life.

"We look forward to continuing our work with the Indian authorities for the safe return of these artifacts."

In total, Glasgow is set to return 51 items to the descendants of their rightful owners from India and Nigeria, as well as the Cheyenne River and Oglala Sioux tribes in the US state of South Dakota.

In March, Glasgow City Council apologized for the city's role in the Atlantic slave trade, following a study of the streets, buildings and individuals associated with the practice.

Glasgow's repatriation commitment is part of a wider re-evaluation of the emergence of objects in Western museums in the wake of global anti-racism movements.

Earlier this year, two British universities returned to Nigeria two bronzes of Benin bronze looted by British colonists in the 19th century.