Author: SAKSHI TOMAR
SAKSHI TOMAR
Sakshi Tomar is an independent researcher whose research interests include history, postcolonial international relations, cultural diplomacy, and South Asian affairs
In August this year, the historic city of Bhopal, once the seat of the legendary King Bhoja, became the stage for a significant moment in contemporary international relations. As delegates gathered for the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting, the conversation shifted from generic cooperation to the tangible weight of a 250 kg marble sculpture currently housed in London. On August 8, 2026, the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration formally identified “provenance research” and the restitution of cultural property as central pillars of institutional cooperation among member nations. This diplomatic initiative has brought the Vagdevi idol, an 11th-century masterpiece of the…
