India-Britain / Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 'Tiger Nail' will return to India after 350 years, know the story

India-Britain: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's famous tiger nail, 'Bagh ka Panja' weapon, is being brought back from Britain to India after 350 years. It was used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1659 to defeat General Afzal Khan of Bijapur Sultanate and defeated the traitor Afzal. It is being returned to Maharashtra from London in November. Let us tell you that this year is the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

To mark the occasion, a three-yearly exhibition is being launched and on this occasion the tiger claw weapon will be brought back from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Maharashtra Culture Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is reaching London on Tuesday. He will sign the agreement with the museum for the Bagh Nakh there. Earlier this month he had said, “In the first phase, we are bringing Wagh Nakh. It will be brought here in November.”

He said that it is expected that the Wagh Nakh will be kept in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in South Mumbai. Let us tell you that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had taken the life of Afzal Khan with this very nail.

Shivaji's fame increased due to the battle of Pratapgarh

The victory of the Marathas in the Battle of Pratapgarh in 1659 was a turning point in Chhatrapati Shivaji's campaign to establish the Maratha Empire. Despite being outnumbered, the Marathas defeated the Adilshahi army led by Afzal Khan, enhancing Chhatrapati Shivaji's reputation as a brilliant military strategist.

Chhatrapati Shivaji killed Afzal Khan at the foothills of Pratapgarh Fort in the present Satara district of Maharashtra. According to the incident narrated in history, Afzal Khan had called Shivaji and deceitfully stabbed him in the back, but Shivaji Maharaj killed him using 'tiger claw'.

Debate regarding authenticity of Wagh nail

This year is also the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj.” On the other hand, there is a debate going on in Maharashtra on the authenticity of 'Wagh Nakh'. History expert Indrajit Sawant has said that Maharaj Shivaji did not use it.

He says that according to the website of Victoria and Albert Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji did not use tiger nails. He doesn't accept it. On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has also raised questions on the veracity of 'Bagh Nakh' and its authenticity.