Bhosale Heir Envisions Maratha Legacy Museum in Nagpur To House Raghuji's Sword On Return from UK
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Nagpur: In a push to reclaim a piece of Maratha history, Mudhoji Bhosale — descendant of Raghuji Raje Bhosale I — has offered to personally pay the full amount spent by the Maharashtra government to secure the warrior king's sword at a recent UK auction. He also pledged to cover transport and related formalities, making it clear he wants the artifact brought to Nagpur.
"This is about legacy, not just ownership," Mudhoji said at a press conference at his Mahal residence on Wednesday. Beyond recovering the artifact, Mudhoji announced his long-term vision of establishing a grand
Maratha legacy museum
in the city with the sword as its centrepiece. Looking ahead, the family plans to establish the museum within the next four to five years. The museum would showcase arms, artifacts, cannons, which are currently at Mudhoji's residence, and the rich history of the Bhosale dynasty in Vidarbha. "We want a space where people can connect with our region's Maratha heritage," he added.
Local voices have joined the call, urging the government to bring the sword to Nagpur's state-run museum or support the proposed legacy museum. Atul Guru of Durg Pratishthan, emphasized that cultural relevance matters. "We already have a state-run museum in Nagpur that displays artifacts linked to the region's Maratha and Vidarbha history. This sword belongs here. The recent display of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Wagh Nakh drew over 50,000 visitors to our museum. Imagine the response if we had
Raghuji's sword
on display permanently."
The centuries-old sword was recently brought back into Indian hands after the Maharashtra government won a last-minute bid at a London auction, securing it for Rs47.15 lakh. Interestingly, the
Bhosale family
had also participated in the auction with two bids — Mandar Kadam and Ankur Singh, bidding up to Rs35 lakh before learning the state was also competing. "We didn't mind losing the bid as long as the sword came back to Maharashtra," said Mudhoji. "Now, our focus is to ensure it comes to Nagpur."
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He said that best efforts will be made between the Bhosales and government officials, including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar, to determine the sword's final location. A ceremonial homecoming is being planned once it returns from the UK.
He also reflected on Nagpur's historical significance. "The Nagpur Bhosale kingdom once spanned over 2.17 lakh square kilometers. When the Mahal Palace burned, legend says the fire raged for six months. The British looted heavily, and the sword might have been taken by an officer during those raids or by a British officer later, who might have gifted it to his senior," he added.
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