Which archaeologist gave the following statement: “it seems to me a suicidal and indefensible policy to allow the country to be looted of original works of ancient art”?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → H.H. Cole
By the 1850s, sculpted slabs from the great stupa at Amaravati were being carried away to Calcutta, Madras and even London, and some decorated the gardens of British officials. The archaeologist H.H. Cole was one of the few who objected; he called it “a suicidal and indefensible policy” to let the country be looted of its ancient art. He wanted museums to keep plaster-cast copies, while the originals stayed where they had been found. Thanks to such views, Sanchi survived in place while Amaravati did not.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 13-05 S2 | – | – | 06-06 S3* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2025-26): “8. ‘Discovering’ Stupas The Fate of Amaravati and Sanchi … It was not unusual to find these sculptures adorning the gardens of British administrators. In fact, any new official in the area continued to remove sculptures from the site on the grounds that earlier officials had done the same. One of the few men who had a different point of view was an archaeologist named H.H. Cole. He wrote: ‘It seems to me a suicidal and indefensible policy to allow the country to be looted of original works of ancient art.’ He believed that museums should have plaster-cast facsimiles of sculpture, whereas the originals should remain where they had been found.…” |