Leiden University Library returns the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India
On 16 May 2026 Leiden University Library in the Netherlands restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to the Government of India in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Dutch PM Rob Jetten.
Summary
Leiden University Library restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to the Government of India on 16 May 2026, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The Chola Copper Plates are a set of 21 large plates and 3 small plates, royal charters issued by Chola kings in the 11th century CE. The charters record the gift of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara called Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, and carry texts in Tamil and Sanskrit. The visit's list of outcomes also includes an MoU between Leiden University Libraries and the Archaeological Survey of India.
Key facts
- Returned by
- Leiden University Library, Netherlands
- Date
- 16 May 2026
- Plates
- 21 large + 3 small; royal charters of Chola kings, 11th century CE
- Content
- Gift of Anaimangalam village to Chulamanivarma-vihara, Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu)
- Languages
- Tamil and Sanskrit
- Related
- MoU: Leiden University Libraries – Archaeological Survey of India
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which institution restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Leiden University Library
Leiden University Library returned the Chola Copper Plates in the presence of PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten.
The Chola Copper Plates returned in May 2026 record the gift of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara located in:
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Correct answer: B — Nagapattinam
The charters formalise the gift of Anaimangalam village to the Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Consider the following statements about the Chola Copper Plates restituted to India in May 2026: 1. The set consists of 21 large plates and 3 small plates. 2. The texts on the plates are written only in Tamil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the plates contain texts in both Tamil and Sanskrit.