The renowned Wagh Nakh also known as tiger claw, an iconic weapon used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1659 against the general of the Bijapur sultanate, Afzal Khan, is expected to return to India, Maharashtra from London in November. This year commemorates the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji's coronation. To mark the event, the tiger claw weapon will be returned from London's Victoria and Albert Museum on loan for a three-year exhibition.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Maharashtra's Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Victoria and Albert Museum is all set to be signed on October 3, 2023, in London.
What Is Wagh Nakh?
Wagh Nakh means tiger's claw in Hindi. Wagh Nakh can be tucked under and against the palm, or it can fit over the knuckles. It is made to cut through flesh and muscle and comprises four or five curving blades attached to a crossbar or glove. The first Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used a bichuwa and Wagh Nakh to kill the Bijapur general Afzal Khan. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire.
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister To Sign MoU For Shivaji Weapon
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and the Victoria and Albert Museum is set to be signed on October 3 in London to bring the renowned Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's tiger claw Wagh Nakh to India.
Minister of Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Sudhir Mungantiwar is now on a three-day trip to London. On the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation.
How Did Reach Wagh Nakh Reached London
According to the reports, Indrajeet Sawant, a history researcher in Maharashtra's Kolhapur mentioned that Wagh Nakh kept in the London Museum is said to have come to the British after being given by Pratapsinh Maharaj, the fifth and final Chhatrapati, to British political agent James Grant Duff (officer of the East India Company), ToI reported. (Places In England Are A Must Visit For Your Insta Feeds)
The museum and the Maharashtra government will sign an MoU so India can receive the Wagh Nakh for an exhibition. A report by NDTV mentioned that "The Wagh Nakh is expected to be housed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in south Mumbai."
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Role of Shivaji’s Wagh Nakh
The Marathas' victory over the Afzal Khan-led Adilshahi forces at Pratapgarh in 1659 represented a turning point in Shivaji's efforts to build the Maratha Empire. Despite being fewer in number, Chhatrapati Shivaji's reputation as an outstanding military commander was boosted by the Marathas' success.
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Afzal Khan's killing by Shivaji at the base of Pratapgarh fort in the present-day Satara region of Maharashtra (Exploring The Beauty of Magnificent Maharashtra) has become a legendary incident, signifying his bravery in overcoming a much bigger and more powerful enemy. It is widely believed that Shivaji used Wagh Nakh to kill Afzal Khan.
The Minister of Cultural Affairs stated that he said that they were delighted to go to London and sign a contract bringing Wagh Nakh to India. For the first time since the East India Company transported it to England in the 1820s as part of the British colonial conquest of the Indian subcontinent, the Wagh Nakh will return to India.
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