Mumbai: The 'wagh nakh' or tiger claw-shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the Maharashtra government intends to bring back from a London museum is not "original", historian Indrajit Sawant said on Monday and claimed that the one he used the legendary emperor remains in the state's own Satara.
The state government had last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the London-based museum to obtain the 'wagh nakh' that was used by the founder of the Maratha Empire to kill General Afzal Khan of the Bijapur Sultanate in 1659.
The 'wagh nakh' is an enduring and revered symbol of the warrior king's tenacity and valor, as it was used to subdue and kill a physically larger opponent.
"The wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra under a loan agreement of Rs 30 million over three years. In its response to my letter, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has said that there is no evidence that the wagh nakh (in possession) belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Sawant told reporters in Kolhapur.
"The Maharashtra team under Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar who visited London to sign the loan agreement has been asked to produce this information. The real wagh nakh is in Satara itself," Sawant said.
Another researcher, Pandurang Balkawade, told a Marathi television channel that Pratapsinh Chhatrapati handed over the 'wagh nakh' from his personal collection to the British Garnt Duff between 1818 and 1823, adding that Duff's descendants handed it over to the museum.
However, Sawant said Pratapsinh Chhatrapati showed the 'wagh nakh' to several people after Duff left India.
Speaking on the issue, Minister Shambhuraj Desai said that it is well known that the 'Bhavani talwar' and 'wagh nakh' are in London.
"Our government verified the details and then signed the MoU. If historians have a different opinion, our government will clarify the issue," Desai said.
Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar said the government's stance is clear: all the artefacts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who are inspirations for the people, will be preserved, promoted and displayed.
The state government had last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the London-based museum to obtain the 'wagh nakh' that was used by the founder of the Maratha Empire to kill General Afzal Khan of the Bijapur Sultanate in 1659.
The 'wagh nakh' is an enduring and revered symbol of the warrior king's tenacity and valor, as it was used to subdue and kill a physically larger opponent.
"The wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra under a loan agreement of Rs 30 million over three years. In its response to my letter, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has said that there is no evidence that the wagh nakh (in possession) belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Sawant told reporters in Kolhapur.
"The Maharashtra team under Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar who visited London to sign the loan agreement has been asked to produce this information. The real wagh nakh is in Satara itself," Sawant said.
Another researcher, Pandurang Balkawade, told a Marathi television channel that Pratapsinh Chhatrapati handed over the 'wagh nakh' from his personal collection to the British Garnt Duff between 1818 and 1823, adding that Duff's descendants handed it over to the museum.
However, Sawant said Pratapsinh Chhatrapati showed the 'wagh nakh' to several people after Duff left India.
Speaking on the issue, Minister Shambhuraj Desai said that it is well known that the 'Bhavani talwar' and 'wagh nakh' are in London.
"Our government verified the details and then signed the MoU. If historians have a different opinion, our government will clarify the issue," Desai said.
Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar said the government's stance is clear: all the artefacts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who are inspirations for the people, will be preserved, promoted and displayed.
