The Netherlands is returning a set of Chola-era copper plates known as the Anaimangalam Plates to India after more than a century abroad. The plates, catalogued in the Netherlands as the “Leiden Plates,” have been held by Leiden University since the 19th century. According to multiple reports, a Dutch committee has concluded that the plates were taken during the colonial period without the consent of the rightful owners. Historians cited by Indian outlets say the artefacts were likely removed from the Coromandel Coast during Dutch colonial rule, dating to the 18th century. India has been pursuing their return since 2012, and the decision to send them back follows this long-running effort. The returned collection is described as consisting of 21 copper plates dating to the Chola period and considered among the most historically valuable surviving written records from the Chola empire. Reports describe the homecoming as a significant development in cultural restitution and repatriation efforts, though details on the exact return timeline and the receiving Indian institution are not specified across the sources.