Shivaji's wagh nakh and Maratha-era weapons go on display at CSMVS in Mumbai

The 'Shivshastra Shauryagatha' exhibition was inaugurated on Friday at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai. It displays historical weapons linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha period. The exhibition will remain open to the public for the next six months.

Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar inaugurated the special exhibition. It has been organised jointly by the state government's Cultural Affairs Department, the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, and CSMVS.

On display are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wagh nakh, the sword of Raghuji Raje Bhosale, the sword of commander Prataprao Gujar, the shield of Khanderao Gaikwad and the dandpatta of Sardar Raste. Several other historical weapons of the Maratha period are also included.

Shelar described preserving and conserving the weapons of Shivaji Maharaj's era as a responsibility. He appealed to citizens, especially those interested in history, to visit the exhibition and learn the history of Maharashtra.

He said: "It was our duty to bring historical weapons such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wagh nakh and the sword of Senasaheb Subha Raghuji Raje Bhosale back to Maharashtra through international efforts, following all rules and procedures. Preserving the weapons of Shivaji's era is our responsibility."

Shelar said the weapons are not merely symbols of valour. They also reflect courage, engineering skill, metallurgy and meticulous planning. He called the wagh nakh a symbol of a victory won through strategy. According to him, the state government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with administrative officers, returned these historical objects to Maharashtra after long negotiations and sustained efforts, following international rules, traditions and protocol.

On the sword of Raghuji Raje Bhosale, Shelar said the necessary approvals came from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian embassy, with the support of the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that through coordination and proper mediation, the sword was brought back with full honour as a heritage of Maharashtra and the Marathi people.

Shelar also mentioned the inclusion of 12 forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the UNESCO World Heritage list. He said the proposal moved forward through the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, with India's case put forward through talks with member countries. The proposal was later approved unanimously. He added that Shivaji Maharaj's royal seal now appears with honour on the flag and uniform of the Indian Navy.

Kiran Kulkarni, secretary of the Cultural Affairs and Marathi Language Department, said the Mumbai exhibition has given a new international dimension to the study of Maratha and Shivaji-era weapon traditions. He said bringing the wagh nakh and Raghuji Raje Bhosale's sword to India involved discussions and negotiations with foreign officials, and the resolve to reach the goal never wavered.

Kulkarni also listed the technical requirements for preserving historical objects brought from abroad. These include keeping the temperature controlled, maintaining a safe distance between exhibits and arranging proper lighting. He said the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums and CSMVS followed international standards while setting up the exhibition.

Tejas Garge, director of Archaeology and Museums, said that on the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, the state government had assigned the Cultural Affairs Department and the Directorate of Archaeology the responsibility of bringing the historical wagh nakh to India.

According to Garge, the exhibition was put together after a memorandum of understanding with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It was earlier shown in Satara, Kolhapur and Nagpur, where lakhs of people came to see it. He said the initiative has also set an example in the conservation, preservation and documentation of historical weapons.

Those present at the inauguration included CSMVS Director General Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Deputy Director of Archaeology and Museums Hemant Dalvi, trustee Cyrus Guzder and powada performer Nandesh Umap.

At the start of the programme, Umap presented a traditional powada on the historical episode of the killing of Afzal Khan. A book titled 'Dandpatta' was also released at the event.