Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Wagh Nakh to Return to Maharashtra on 350th Coronation Anniversary
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wagh nakh (claw-like dagger) will be brought back to Maharashtra from Victoria and Albert Museum in London on a loan basis for a period of three years. The wagh nakh is a mediaeval weapon used for personal defence or stealth attack. It is most famous for its use by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan, a general of Bijapur's Adil Shahi Sultanate.
The return of the wagh nakh is seen as a step towards reckoning with the colonial past and returning invaluable artefacts of historical and cultural significance to their places of origin.
Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary wagh nakh to the state.
Points summarizing the key information about the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's legendary wagh nakh:-
MoU Signed: On October 3, Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar signed an MoU with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Purpose of MoU: The MoU aims to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's legendary wagh nakh to the state of Maharashtra.
Loan Basis: According to the MoU, the antique weapon (wagh nakh) will be handed over to the Government of Maharashtra on a loan basis for a period of three years.
Display in Museums: During the three-year loan period, the wagh nakh will be displayed in museums across the state of Maharashtra.
Description of Wagh Nakh: The wagh nakh is a medieval claw-like dagger used across the Indian subcontinent. It features four or five curved blades affixed to a glove or a bar, designed for personal defense or stealth attacks.
Historical Significance: The wagh nakh is historically significant due to its association with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the legendary killing of Afzal Khan.
Afzal Khan's Killing: The most famous use of the wagh nakh in history is associated with the killing of Afzal Khan by Shivaji. Afzal Khan was a general of Bijapur's Adil Shahi Sultanate, and he was defeated by Shivaji using the wagh nakh.
James Grant Duff: The wagh nakh was brought to Britain by East India Company officer James Grant Duff, who was the Company Resident of the Satara State from 1818-22.
Inscription on the Case: The wagh nakh was kept in a fitted case with an inscription that mentioned its historical significance and how it was given to James Grant Duff.
Colonial History: The return of the wagh nakh is part of a broader movement to return artifacts of historical and cultural significance that were taken to Europe by colonizers as loot or memorabilia.
Context of Koh-i-noor Diamond: The demand for the return of the wagh nakh is in line with the larger movement to return colonial-era artifacts, such as the Koh-i-noor diamond, which is currently part of the British monarch's Crown Jewels.
Temporary Return: The wagh nakh will be returned to the Victoria and Albert Museum after the three-year loan period.
Commemoration: The decision to bring back the wagh nakh coincides with the celebratory occasion of the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation.
Some important vocabularies from the article along with their synonyms:
1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) - Agreement, Pact
2. Antique - Vintage, Old-fashioned
3. Loan Basis - Temporary, Borrowed
4. Medieval - Middle Ages, Ancient
5. Claw-like - Talon-like, Hooked
6. Dagger - Stiletto, Dirk
7. Personal Defense - Self-defense, Protection
8. Stealth - Covert, Sneakiness
9. Affixed - Attached, Fixed
10. Fief - Domain, Territory
11. Subjugating - Conquering, Dominating
12. Assertive - Confident, Self-assured
13. Treachery - Betrayal, Deceit
14. Chainmail - Armor, Hauberk
15. Inscription - Engraving, Writing
16. Surrendered - Relinquished, Yielded
17. Plunder - Loot, Pillage
18. Subjugation - Domination, Suppression
19. Acquiescing - Agreeing, Conceding
20. Reckoning - Acknowledgment, Assessment
21. Coronation - Crowning, Enthronement
Some MCQs based on the article with answers
1. What is the primary purpose of the MoU signed between Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London?
a) To purchase the wagh nakh
b) To display the wagh nakh in London
c) To bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wagh nakh to Maharashtra
d) To sell the wagh nakh to a museum in Europe
Answer: c) To bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wagh nakh to Maharashtra
2. What is the wagh nakh?
a) A type of traditional dance
b) A medieval claw-like dagger
c) A rare gemstone
d) A type of architectural structure
Answer: b) A medieval claw-like dagger
3. In which historical event is the use of the wagh nakh by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj famously mentioned?
a) The Battle of Plassey
b) The French Revolution
c) The Third Anglo-Maratha War
d) Afzal Khan's killing
Answer: d) Afzal Khan's killing
4. Who brought the wagh nakh to Britain?
a. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
b. James Grant Duff
c. Afzal Khan
d. The British Royal Family
Answer: b) James Grant Duff
5. Why is there a growing movement to return colonial-era artifacts to their places of origin?
a. To sell the artifacts for profit
b. To preserve the artifacts in European museums
c. To acknowledge the colonial history and return stolen objects
d. To promote European culture worldwide
Answer: c) To acknowledge the colonial history and return stolen objects
6. How long will the wagh nakh be loaned to the Government of Maharashtra under the MoU?
a. 5 years
b. 2 years
c. 10 years
d. 3 years
Answer: d) 3 years
7. Which anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation is being celebrated along with the return of the wagh nakh?
a. 250th
b. 100th
c. 350th
d. 500th
Answer: c) 350th
8. What does the term "subjugation" mean in the context of the article?
a. Cooperation
b. Defeat
c. Domination
d. Negotiation
Answer: c) Domination
9. Who was Afzal Khan, and why did he seek a meeting with Shivaji?
a. A British officer who wanted to negotiate peace
b. A Maratha warrior who challenged Shivaji to a duel
c. A general of the Adil Shahi Sultanate sent to bring Shivaji to heel
d. A European explorer interested in Indian weapons
Answer: c) A general of the Adil Shahi Sultanate sent to bring Shivaji to heel
10. What is the significance of James Grant Duff in the context of the wagh nakh's presence in Britain?
a. He was a famous Indian warrior who used the wagh nakh.
b. He was responsible for creating a replica of the wagh nakh.
c. He brought the wagh nakh to Britain and was associated with the Satara State.
d. He was a scholar who wrote about the wagh nakh's history.
Answer: c) He brought the wagh nakh to Britain and was associated with the Satara State.
11. Why is there a movement to return colonial-era artifacts to their places of origin?
a. To acquire more artifacts for European museums
b. To maintain the historical artifacts in their current locations
c. To acknowledge colonial history and address issues of theft and exploitation
d. To display European culture in former colonies
Answer: c) To acknowledge colonial history and address issues of theft and exploitation
12. What will happen to the wagh nakh after its loan period to Maharashtra ends?
a. It will be sold to the highest bidder.
b. It will remain in Maharashtra permanently.
c. It will be returned to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
d. It will be given to another European museum.
Answer: c) It will be returned to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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