The Maratha warrior Shivaji’s “wagh-nakh,” or tiger claws, are back from London. Authorities will put the claws on display in Satara, Maharashtra, starting this Friday.
These tiger claws are historically noteworthy since history says that Shivaji used them in his fabled 1659 fight. When he was in fight with General Afzal Khan of the Bijapur Sultanate.
Renowned historian Indrajit Sawant has sparked a new debate ahead of the eagerly anticipated public ceremony, casting doubt on the veracity of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s “wagh nakh.”
Known for his in-depth studies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Indrajit has asserted that the tiger claws are fake and that the Maharashtra government’s “stunts” amount to “befooling” the public.
He asserted that the Satara area of Maharashtra already houses the real tiger claws.
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Sawant is not the only one who has doubts. Aditya Thackeray, a former minister for the Shiv Sena (UBT), had expressed similar skepticism on the legitimacy of the claws earlier.
Anand Dubey, a spokesperson for the Shiv Sena (UBT), has also expressed skepticism and demanded an inquiry.
“The claws brought, claiming to be original, are not convincing to us. Now, even historian Indrajit Sawant is questioning their credibility. The BJP needs to carefully consider what is correct and what is not,” he emphasised.
Responding to charges, Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar stated, “No one has claimed that the ‘wagh nakh’ or the tiger claws being brought from London were used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”
Additionally, he denied allegations of extravagant costs, emphasizing that agreement procedures and travel costed only Rs 14.08 lakh.
A three-year loan of the tiger claws to Maharashtra is part of an arrangement with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
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