The Case of Taleju Bhavani’s Necklace

Abstract

This case study examines the contested possession of a sacred 17th-century necklace dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Taleju Bhavani, currently held by the Art Institute of Chicago. Stolen from Nepal over 45 years ago, the necklace resurfaced in the museum's Arts of Asia collection, prompting outrage and advocacy when Dr. Sweta Baniya discovered and publicized its presence through social media. Drawing on autoethnographic reflection and digital activism, the case interrogates the ethics of museum collections, the cultural and spiritual violence of dispossession, and the dual role of digital technologies as both facilitators of illicit artifact trafficking and powerful tools for grassroots advocacy. Despite clear evidence of the necklace’s sacred origin and calls from the Nepali community and global heritage activists for its return, the museum has remained silent. The case highlights broader questions about colonial legacies, the responsibilities of Western institutions, and the potential of digital media to generate global movements for repatriation. It ultimately asks: can museums be decolonized, and what does justice look like for communities whose sacred heritage has been displaced?