Later this month, the Cultural Affairs Minister for the Indian state of Maharashtra, Sudhir Mungantiwar, is expected to visit London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to sign a memorandum of understanding for the return of a deadly tiger claw weapon known as the ‘wagh nakh’.

There is great excitement about its return as India believes it to be the actual weapon the Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used in 1659 to kill the Moghul General Afzal Khan. However, the terms of its return - whether permanent or temporary - are still to be finalised.

History records that after agreeing a truce in their protracted rivalry, the two military commanders arranged to meet in a tented enclosure. Here they fought, hand to hand, before Shivaji, concealing this tiger claw weapon in the palm of his left hand, disembowelled Afzal Khan.

The weapon was gifted to the V&A by a descendant of James Grant Duff (1789-1858), an officer of the East India Company who was appointed Resident (political agent) of the Satara State in 1818. There is an inscription on the presentation box (which almost certainly post-dates its transfer to Grant Duff ) that reads: ‘The Wagnuck of Sivajee With Which He Killed the Moghul General. This Relic was given to Mr. James Grant-Duff of Eden When he was Resident at Satara By the Prime Minister of the Peshwa of the Marathas.’

The V&A’s website states the Museum has not been able to verify whether it is the actual tiger claw weapon used by Shivaji. However, this hasn’t dampened India’s enthusiasm to recover the weapon, which they believe symbolises a pivotal moment in India’s history and whose return is therefore a matter of huge significance.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s wagh nakh is a priceless treasure of history and the sentiments of state are associated with them.”

Sudhir Mungantiwar

A spokesperson from the V&A said: 'We are delighted that the Tiger Claws will return to India as part of the 350th anniversary events where they can be enjoyed as part of the celebrations." However, it also told us that discussions are still at an early stage, so the Museum is unable to say what kind of arrangement the two parties will agree.

Despite director Tristram Hunt’s stated aspirations for reviewing and possibly modernising the Museum’s governing act (1983 National Heritage Act), the V&A remains severely restricted on what objects it can deaccession. The condition of this tiger claw weapon suggests it is not an object that would qualify for deaccessioning. Instead, it’s possible the Museum might propose the same kind of ‘partnership model’ it used last year to return a small collection of Asante regalia to Ghana. This arrangement involves a renewable long-term loan. 

Mungantiwar has said he is confident of its return to India: "We have received confirmation from the UK authorities saying they have agreed to give us back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wagh nakh." He also hopes it might be returned in time for the anniversary of the day when Shivaji defeated Afzal Khan, based on the Hindu calendar.

There are efforts underway to secure the return of other historically important items in time for the 350th anniversary of the Maratha king’s coronation next year. These include Shivaji’s ceremonial Jagdamba sword, held in the Royal Collection Trust since 1876 and understood to be kept at St James’s Palace. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been approached to assist with the loan of this historic sword.

Photo: Tiger claws, steel, Deccan, 17^th century

Courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London