Historic Tiger Claw of Shivaji Maharaj Returns to Maharashtra After 350 Years

GG News Bureau
Satara, 29th July. The legendary tiger claw, or “Bagh Nakh,” used by Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to defeat General Afzal Khan, has returned to Maharashtra after more than 350 years. The state government has secured the weapon on a three-year loan from London’s Albert Museum and has put it on display at the Satara Museum in western Maharashtra.

The Bagh Nakh, which is displayed under a bulletproof cover with heightened security measures, will be showcased in Satara for the next seven months. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and other prominent leaders.

The Bagh Nakh is a significant historical artifact, recalling an event from 1649 when Shivaji Maharaj, having established the Maratha Empire after a successful rebellion against the Bijapur Sultanate, met with Bijapur general Afzal Khan under the guise of a peaceful parley. During their embrace, Shivaji Maharaj used the concealed Bagh Nakh to fatally wound Afzal Khan, marking a pivotal moment at the foot of Pratapgarh Fort, located in present-day Satara.

The return of the Bagh Nakh comes ahead of Maharashtra’s assembly elections, and is seen as a strategic move by the ruling alliance to bolster their standing. The Maratha warrior’s legacy holds significant political weight, particularly with the Shiv Sena’s historical reverence for Shivaji Maharaj. The loan of the Bagh Nakh is expected to strengthen the image of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is working to align himself with the political legacy of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena.

The assembly elections later this year are a critical concern for the ruling alliance, which has been outperformed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP, allied with the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, won 23 of the 25 seats contested in Maharashtra. This time, however, the BJP won only nine seats, while the alliance of splinter units led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar secured eight of the 19 seats they contested. The Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction also made notable gains.