The Pillage Of History (Bengal)

The economy in this small, nondescript pocket of rural Bengal is booming. And not due to a miraculous leap in agricultural yield but the highly lucrative business of smuggling priceless antiques, including ivory and gold objects, and exquisite terracotta art, out of the country.

Located 40 kilometres northwest of Calcutta and spread over about four square miles, Chandraketugarh is a treasure trove of antiques, some dating back to 650 BC. These are being dug up by avaricious locals who form the first link in international gangs of smugglers. There has been little effort to prevent the looting of this rich archaeological site, which has been going on for at least two decades now.

What makes the looting particularly tragic is that these relics could have unveiled little-known aspects of ancient civilisation in Gangetic Bengal.

Chandraketugarh first came to light in the first decade of the last century when some antiques were dug up while laying a road.