British man’s question on missing artefacts in Indian museum gets perfect reply: ‘They’re all in London’
A UK man’s light exchange with a fellow traveller inside an Indian museum went viral.
A British traveller’s tongue-in-cheek video from the National Museum of India has reignited conversations about Britain’s colonial past and the fate of India’s cultural treasures.

(Also read: UK man hails India despite Russian wife being allegedly harassed in Amritsar: ‘Don’t listen to noise on social media')
The man, identified as Alex, posted the video on Instagram, where he can be seen walking alongside a fellow traveller, Amina, through the museum’s corridors in New Delhi.
In the short clip, Alex is heard asking, “Amina, do you know why there’s hardly any artefacts in the National Museum of India?” To this, Amina quickly replies, “I think it’s because they’re all in London.” Alex responds with a knowing nod, saying, “Ah, yeah, I remember.”
Check out the clip here:
The video, captioned “Why the museums in India are empty. National Museum of India, Delhi,” has garnered over four lakh views, sparking a mix of amusement, irony, and outrage among viewers.
Online reactions and public sentiment
The clip has reignited discussions about colonial history and the vast collection of Indian artefacts housed in British museums. While many users responded with biting humour, others reflected on the deeper implications of cultural loss and historical injustice.
The comments section soon became a lively debate on heritage and identity. One viewer remarked, “Everything was stolen by the British,” while another observed, “London has more Indian things than India.” A third added, “So very true — same goes for Greek artefacts and a load more,” drawing global parallels to other nations whose treasures were taken abroad.
Some opted for a lighter tone, with one user writing, “They took everything, lol,” and another quipping, “That’s why I feel like I’m at home when I go to museums in London.” A separate comment read, “Yup, the London museum is filled with medieval and ancient period items.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
ABOUT THE AUTHORMahipal Singh ChouhanMahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. His work primarily focuses on offbeat and trending stories that reflect everyday experiences and evolving conversations on the internet. He has consistently worked on transforming viral content and human interest stories into structured news pieces that engage readers while maintaining editorial clarity. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal contributes to identifying and developing stories emerging from social media trends, online communities, and real-world incidents that capture public attention. His approach involves adding context and journalistic perspective to fast-moving digital narratives, helping present viral moments in a clear and reader-friendly format suited for digital audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling practices. Mahipal holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. He is particularly interested in tracking emerging trends and understanding how online conversations evolve into broader public discussions. His work reflects a focus on accuracy, readability, and relevance in the rapidly changing digital news environment. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mahipal takes an interest in history and sports and regularly works on improving his general knowledge, which complements his curiosity as a media professional.Read More

E-Paper


