The Archaeological Survey of India announced Monday that a team of the Indian archaeologists will visit Kabul to study a huge stone vessel “begging bowl” currently displayed in Kabul Museum.
India is considering to bring back the artifact from Afghanistan after demands were made in the national parliament of India last year.
The state-run Archaeological Survey fo India (ASI) believe that the stone bowl, used by Buddha belongs to India and research reports suggest that the bowl was donated to the people of Vaishali by Buddha.
B.R. Mani, the additinal director general of Archaological Survey of India (ASI) quoted by AFP said, “We will be sending two experts to Kabul to examine the bowl. We are very much in favour of bringing it back to India.”
Mr. Mani further added, “They will examine if the raw material has been sourced locally from one of the Afghan cities. If not, it will strengthen our claim that it belongs to us.”
According to the ASI officials, research reports shows that the 1.75 metres bowl was moved to Kandahar province of Afghanistan after it was taken to Peshawar city by a king who was ruling the northern India and other parts of Asia in the second century.
The officials also added, it is believed that the bowl was taken to Kabul museum during the Soviet war in Afghanistan in 1980s.
According to ASI additional director general B.R. Mani, the greenish-grey granite bowl has a lotus flower chiseled around its base, suggesting its Buddhist past.
He said bowl was later inscribed along its rim with rows of Arabic verses from holy Quran.
