MUMBAI: The 'wagh nakh' (a dagger looking like tiger claws) that is said to be used by
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
to kill
Afzal Khan
was brought to Mumbai from London's Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum on Wednesday. The
wagh nakh
was taken to Satara late on Wednesday where it will be displayed from July 19. The wagh make exhibit will be inaugurated by CM Eknath Shinde and DCMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis.
Just last week a controversy broke out over the state govt getting the wagh nakh after historian Indrajit Sawant claimed that he has the letter from the V&A Museum which says that it is not certain if the wagh nakh being brought to Maharashtra was the one used by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to kill Afzal Khan. Following Sawant’s revelation, the opposition demanded that the govt clarify the truth.
“The wagh nakh will be put in Satara’s museum by Thursday evening along with other artefacts and weapons from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s time. There will be a special exhibit and a special postal stamp will also be launched,” BJP Minister Sudhir Mungathiwar said.
The Maharashtra government has formed two committees, one for Mumbai and one for Satara, Kolhapur and Nagpur districts where the wagh nakh is proposed to be displayed. Local District Collectors, Police Commissioner/Superintendent, PWD officials and museum officials are part of the committee to ensure wagh nakh’s safety. The committee will chalk out plans for its display. The Mumbai committee will be headed by Dr Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director General of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS).
The wagh nakh is set to be displayed in four museums namely the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Satara, the Central Museum in Nagpur, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Kolhapur and CSMVS in Mumbai, according to a Government Resolution (GR).
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