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The weapon, used by Shivaji Maharaj to kill Bijapur Sultanate’s general Afzal Khan in 1659, will be displayed at the Satara City Museum for public viewing for the first time.
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra’s historic city of Satara will host a grand celebration on Friday, showcasing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s iconic weapon, the “Wagh Nakh” (tiger claw), brought back from the United Kingdom’s Victoria and Albert Museum for three years.
The weapon, used by Shivaji Maharaj to kill Bijapur Sultanate’s general Afzal Khan in 1659, will be displayed at the Satara City Museum for public viewing for the first time.
Maharashtra’s Minister of Culture, Sudhir Mungantiwar, confirmed the arrival of the “Wagh Nakh” from London. “We are commemorating 350 years since Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was crowned. The public will have the opportunity to witness the ‘Wagh Nakh’ through its display in the museum,” he stated.
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The celebration will be attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and members of the Royal Family of Satara, including BJP Rajya Sabha member Udayanraje Bhosale and former MLA Shivendra Raje Bhosale. A postal stamp in honour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will also be released at the function.
The victory at the Battle of Pratapgarh in 1659, where Shivaji Maharaj defeated Afzal Khan, marked a turning point in his campaign to establish the Maratha Empire. Despite being outnumbered, the Marathas’ triumph against the Adilshahi forces showcased Shivaji’s brilliance as a military strategist. The episode, symbolizing the Maratha ruler’s bravery, has since become part of folklore.
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However, historian Indrajit Sawant from Kolhapur raised doubts, claiming the weapon brought to Satara is a replica. “There are various proofs available in the public domain indicating that the original object is still in Satara,” Sawant asserts.
The “Wagh Nakh” will be displayed in Satara on July 19, followed by exhibitions in other cities like Kolhapur, Nagpur, and Mumbai. “We will showcase weapons used during Shivaji Maharaj’s era so the new generation can learn about the Maratha war tools,” Mungantiwar added.
