WAGH NAGH – HISTORY (MARATHAS)
NEWS : Shivaji’s
WAGH NAGH to be displayed in satara.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The iconic wagh nakh or
tiger claws used by Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was
brought to India from London. The weapon was brought to Mumbai from the
Victoria and Albert Museum to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the
famed Maratha ruler’s ascension to the throne.
Key Points on Wagh Nakh:
1.Description:
- "Wagh
nakh" translates to "tiger claws".
- Medieval
claw-like dagger used across the Indian subcontinent.
- Weapon for
personal defense or stealth attacks.
2. Historical Usage:
- Used by Shivaji
to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659.
- Afzal Khan was a
general of the Adil Shahi Sultanate.
3.Historical Context:
- Shivaji, a former
vassal of the Adil Shahis, became assertive in the 1650s, capturing forts
and territories.
- Afzal Khan sent
by the Sultan with a large army to subdue Shivaji.
- Shivaji killed
Afzal Khan at the foot of Pratapgarh Fort, Satara district, Maharashtra.
- This event was a
turning point, aiding the establishment of the Maratha Empire.
4.Journey to London:
- Brought to
Britain by East India Company officer James Grant Duff (1789-1858).
- Duff was the
Resident of Satara State from 1818-22 and author of 'A History of the
Marathas' (1826).
- Baji Rao II, the
last Peshwa, surrendered the weapon to Duff after the Third Anglo-Maratha
War and was exiled to Bithoor in Kanpur.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/shivajis-wagh-nakh-from-uk-to-be-displayed-in-satara-but-authenticity-questioned/article68414770.ece