What Is The News?
Evidence of stories of bravery have been returning to India which is of huge significance of India’s history, and one such tale revolves around the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his fabled weapon, the Wagh Nakhe (tiger claws). This razor-sharp iron object, which resembled a tiger’s terrifying claws, was crucial to an important historical development in Maratha history.
Afzal Khan, the imposing general of the Bijapur Sultanate, squared off against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1659 in a battle that would alter the course of history. The Marathas used clever guerrilla warfare strategies despite being outnumbered, and fate played out at the base of the Pratapgad fort in Satara district. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj delivered a crushing blow with Wagh Nakhe, killing Afzal Khan and marking a momentous victory for Marathas.
A monument to the shared history between the United Kingdom and India, this image of bravery and tactical genius has been on exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for centuries. Currently, the UK government has consented to give Maharashtra the Wagh Nakhe as a show of goodwill toward Indian culture.
To formalize the return through a memorandum of agreement, a team headed by Sudhir Mungantiwar, the minister of cultural affairs for Maharashtra, will travel to the UK. Mungantiwar mentioned that the goal is to return this priceless item to India on the Hindu calendar’s anniversary of Shivaji’s famous victory over Afzal Khan.
Wagh Nakhe’s return is more than just a token act; it represents a reunion with a crucial period in Maharashtra’s history. It represents the tenacity and steadfast spirit of a people who, in the face of overwhelming adversity, conquered through tactical genius and unwavering bravery, establishing themselves as a growing military power in the country. The Indian people will soon get the opportunity to see this artifact of bravery, a physical reminder of a magnificent period in their history.
How Bagh Nakh reached UK?
The Wagh Nakhe’s voyage from the heartland of Maharashtra to the United Kingdom, the legendary weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is a tale of historical turns. The weapon was crucial to Shivaji’s victory over Afzal Khan in 1659, and it passed through many hands throughout the years. It ultimately found its way into the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection and has been on exhibit there ever since. The specifics of its transfer to the UK are somewhat obscured by history, but the fact that it is on display in the museum serves as a reminder of how interconnected world history and cultural heritage are.
Reference: Deccan Chronicle