The Government of India has launched diplomatic efforts to secure the return of the Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) idolfrom a museum in London to Bhojshala in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, following a landmark ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The move gained momentum after the Madhya Pradesh government formally requested the Centre to pursue the idol’s repatriation. Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal said the process began after the state’s Culture Department wrote to the Centre about a year ago, seeking the idol’s return.
According to Aggarwal, the London museum housing the idol acknowledges that it originated from Dhar, and there is no dispute regarding its identity or provenance. He said the remaining challenge is to secure its return through diplomatic engagement with the United Kingdom.
The effort follows the May 2026 judgment by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which ruled that the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The court also held that Hindu worship at the site has continued over centuries and struck down the Archaeological Survey of India’s 2003 order that had permitted Friday prayers at the complex.
The verdict was based on archaeological evidence, historical records, ASI surveys and legal submissions presented during the hearing of multiple petitions.
Following the ruling, Hindu petitioners renewed demands for the return of the Vagdevi idol, arguing that bringing it back to Bhojshala would help restore the site’s historical and religious heritage.
Officials said the matter has now moved from the legal arena to the diplomatic stage, with the outcome dependent on discussions and cooperation between India and the United Kingdom regarding the repatriation of the historic idol.
