Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 'Wagh Nakh' Arrives In India From London Museum

The Bagh Nakh, also known as Wagh Nakh or Wagh Nakhya, is a "fist-load, claw-like" dagger famously used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to defeat Mughal General Afzal Khan. This historic weapon returned to India from London's Victoria and Albert Museum for a three-year period, according to Maharashtra Minister of Culture Sudhir Mungantiwar.

The Tiger Claw will be prominently displayed at the Shivaji Museum in Satara, with a grand ceremony led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the same day. Last October, Maharashtra Ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar and Uday Samant signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Victoria and Albert Museum to secure the return of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s 'Wagh Nakh' to India for three years.

In a press statement, Sudhir Mungantiwar remarked, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, using his remarkable strategy, used the Wagh Nakh to defeat Afzal Khan. As we celebrate 350 years since his coronation, we have planned numerous events in Maharashtra. The Bagh Nakh will be displayed at the museum, giving people an opportunity to see it.”

He also noted, “According to the MoU, we won’t be able to tour the Wagh Nakh across all Maharashtra districts as initially planned. Instead, it will be displayed at a fixed location accessible to the public.”

Reports indicate that the London museum initially agreed to loan the weapon for one year, but Maharashtra managed to extend the loan to three years.

Earlier this week, Maharashtra Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai announced that the Bagh Nakh would receive a grand reception in Satara. Desai reviewed security measures at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalaya (museum) on Tuesday, revealing that the weapon would be protected by a bulletproof cover and displayed.

However, there is some controversy surrounding the artefact's authenticity. The invitation card issued by the state archaeology department did not link the Wagh Nakh directly to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The director of the London museum, Tristram Hunt, informed historian Indrajeet Sawant that they were unsure if this was indeed the same Wagh Nakh used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to kill Afzal Khan.