Chhatrapati Shivaji's historic weapon returns to India after 350 years from London museum

MUMBAI: The legendary weapon of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Wagh Nakh (Tiger Claw), is returning to India after 350 years. The weapon will be delivered to Maharashtra in November from the museum in London where it is currently held. This return coincides with the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji's coronation.

The Wagh Nakh is renowned for its role in the assassination of Afzal Khan, the general of the Bijapur Sultan in 1659. It is currently housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and will be brought to India for a three-year exhibition. In this regard, Maharashtra's Culture Minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar, is scheduled to visit London on Tuesday to finalize the agreement. The minister had previously stated that the weapon would be returned on the anniversary of the day Afzal Khan was killed, emphasizing that the Wagh Nakh serves as a source of inspiration and strength for the nation. The Wagh Nakh will be displayed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in South Mumbai.

James Grant Duff, an officer in the East India Company, originally brought the Wagh Nakh to Britain. Duff's descendants later transferred the weapon to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Autre objet original, le #panja. Une arme blanche pouvant prendre des formes différentes, dont le fameux "vagh nakh" ou "griffe de tigre" (à droite). C'est ce second type que le marâthe #Shivaji a dissimulé puis utilisé pour abattre l'un de ses ennemis.
👉 https://t.co/zDF98uYctF pic.twitter.com/28nmcRaLVB

— D-Mystif' - Histoire (@D_Mystif) September 16, 2019

The Wagh Nakh is a weapon similar to the Tiger Claw, made of steel, designed to be worn on the hand and used against enemies. However, there is an ongoing debate about the authenticity of the Wagh Nakh in various parts of Maharashtra. Historian Inderjit Sawant has pointed out that the Victoria and Albert Museum's website states that Chhatrapati Shivaji did not use the Wagh Nakh. Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray has also raised questions about the authenticity of this weapon.