Who made this paintings and how did they end up in England? Amazing what the British hauled back from India priceless antiques, paintings, gold, precious stones (just look at the pock marks at the Taj where are all the precious inlaid stones) etc...

If one were to read the provenance's (the previous owners) of these paintings at the relevant museum sites, it is clear that most of them were part of the collections of colonial Britishers of the 18th and 19th centuries or bought more recently by the museums. The fact is that we have in India millions of such paintings which are not being looked after even today when they are really valuable. It is obvious that most of these paintings apart from the few rare ones would not have been considered as treasures then...the way they are seen as today. So it is unnecessary to blame the foreigners time and again to have looted these paintings. To clarify further...these paintings are actually folios in a book which means that they were commissioned or collected by a connoisseur who later gave it to museum to be preserved so that we may enjoy it today. Who would loot a book? It was Lord Curzon who ordered the restoration of the Taj Mahal! One may also check at the ASI site about this fact and also as to who started the ASI in India! Let us give credit where it is due.

Rare Book Society of India, yes I agree, in some regards they are better preserved in museums abroad then in India. I don't think they will ever step up (in India) to build a Museum of international stature like the British Museum or the Louvre , the ones left in India are dust laden and artifacts missing or in bad shape. On your last point it may be true with Lord Curzon but prior to him the British were planning to dismantle the Taj and auction of the marble.

Thank God!...Lord Bentinck's legendary misadventure never took place. We have discussed about the alleged Taj Mahal sale earlier at RBSI and had concluded that it was probably a myth that was concocted by half-truths (as confirmed by ASI) and we could find no proof in any written-record even though the incident is supposed to have taken place as early as mid 1800s.

I tell you, sell the Taj and serve two purpose...let the Govt fill its coffers (as it is they have sold everything on this Mother earth) and the monument will be well preserved (provided its an institution of international repute).

Rare Book Society of India, If that was not true, then the ASI needs to take down the sign near the Taj which says that the Taj Mahal at one time was up for dismantling and auctioning the marble.

" [ Lord Bentink's reputation] for ruthless financial efficiency and disregard for Indian culture led to the much-repeated story that he had once planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and sell off the marble. According to Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli, the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort and of the metal from the Great Agra Gun, the largest cannon ever cast, a historical artifact which dated to the reign of Akbar the Great." .... ... this extract is from a simple 'Wikipedia' search - I'm sure that if one could be simply bothered to delve a little deeper into the matter, then the truth would soon become quite apparent ...