UK to return 'tiger claws' used by Chhatrapati Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan
MUMBAI: People of India will soon have the privilege to get the glimpse of the famed Wagh Nakhe (tiger claws), a weapon used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which holds an important place in Maratha history. It was used by the legendary king to kill Bijapur Sultanate’s general Afzal Khan in 1659.
The United Kingdom (UK) authorities have agreed to return the Wagh Nakhe – a sharp iron weapon shaped like tiger claws, to Maharashtra. This iconic artefact has been on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. A team led by Maharashtra cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will visit the museum to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK authorities in this regard.
“We have received confirmation from UK authorities that they are willing to return Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's ‘Wagh Nakhe.’ We are considering bringing it back to coincide with the anniversary of Shivaji’s killing of Afzal Khan, based on the Hindu calendar,” Mungantiwar said.
The artifact holds immense significance, symbolizing a pivotal moment in Maharashtra’s history. Though superior in numbers, Khan’s powerful army was defeated by the Marathas using guerrilla warfare. The legendary Maratha king killed Khan using Wagh Nakhe, when the two met at the foot of Pratapgad fort in Satara district. It was a significant victory, which established Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Marathas as the rising military power in the country.
“When Afzal Khan stabbed Shivaji Maharaj in the back (during the meeting), Shivaji Maharaj used ‘Wagh Nakhe’ to kill the Bijapur sardar. The weapon is a symbol of faith as well as a source of inspiration for us. The emotions of the people of the state are deeply connected to it,” Mungantiwar said.
He said efforts were also on to bring the legendary ‘Jagdamba’ sword of the Maratha warrior king from a museum in London.
According to him, the Wagh Nakhe are likely to be housed in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalaya (museum) in Mumbai.
