A tiger claw-shaped weapon, or ‘wagh nakh,’ once used by Maratha warrior king Shivaji, was brought to Mumbai from a London museum on Wednesday, according to Maharashtra’s culture minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar.
The historical weapon will be transported to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalay (museum) in Satara, western Maharashtra, where it will be exhibited starting July 19. According to an agreement with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, it will be on display in Maharashtra for three years.
“The wagh nakh has arrived,” Mungantiwar told news agency PTI in response to a question, without providing additional details.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai announced that the historical item would receive a grand welcome in Satara. Desai had inspected the security arrangements at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalay (museum) in the district. He mentioned that the weapon is protected by a bulletproof cover and will be displayed at the museum in Satara for seven months.
“After a lot of efforts, the wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra due to successful efforts of the government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde,” Desai said.
The ‘wagh nakh’
The ‘wagh nakh’ is of significant historical importance to millions in India, as it is believed to have been used by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan, a general of the Bijapur Sultanate, in 1659.
According to historical accounts, Shivaji killed Afzal Khan at the foot of Pratapgarh Fort in what is now Satara district, Maharashtra. In the Battle of Pratapgad, the Marathas, led by Shivaji, defeated the Adilshahi forces commanded by Khan. This event was a crucial turning point in history, aiding Shivaji in establishing the Maratha Empire.
Recently, historian Indrajit Sawant claimed that the weapon being brought from London did not belong to Shivaji, asserting that the original weapon used by Shivaji was in the possession of his descendants in Satara. However, the Maharashtra government has dismissed these claims.
“It is unfortunate that doubts are being raised about Shivaji’s wagh nakh,” Maharashtra cultural affairs minister Mungantiwar said.
“In response to our queries, the museum sent us a picture of the specially designed box for the wagh nakh, on which it is stated that it is the same wagh nakh with which Shivaji killed the Mughal general,” Mungantiwar said, adding that the box itself was made in 1825.