5 days ago
Bhosale's Historic Sword to Return to Maharashtra Before Independence Day
Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt will bring back the legendary sword of Maratha commander, Raghuji Bhosale-I, from Sotheby's before Independence Day. The confirmation came from the minister for culture affairs, Ashish Shelar, who told the Legislative Council that all formalities, including permissions and logistics, were expedited after the state purchased the relic at a global auction.
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The sword is likely to arrive before July 31.
"This is not just a weapon, it is a symbol of the Maratha legacy, resilience, and pride," Shelar said while announcing the sword's return. The govt purchased the sword from Sotheby's London during an online auction of arms and armour, paying the highest bid of ₹69.94 lakh and the state paid a premium to secure the heirloom.
The minister credited chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for acting "within two days" of learning about the sale.
"Thanks to the CM's prompt intervention, we roped in a private agency for customs, handling, and packaging to ensure the sword reaches us in pristine condition," Shelar told the Upper House.
The sword, a rare 18th-century khanda, is crafted in the Maratha 'firang' style — featuring a straight European blade with a Mulheri Ghat-style hilt richly adorned in gold and wrapped in green cloth. A key identifier is a Devanagari inscription in gold reading, "Srimant Raghoji Bhosale Senasahib Subha Firang," linking it directly to Raghuji Bhosale-I.
Historians believe the sword may have been taken out of India after the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi, when British forces defeated the Nagpur Bhosales and looted their treasury.
Raghuji Bhosale I (1695–1755), founder of the Bhosale dynasty of Nagpur and a trusted general of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, played a central role in expanding the Maratha empire in Bengal, Odisha, and southern India. He held the title Senasahib Subha in recognition of his military exploits. "The weapon's return is a historic moment, as we reclaim an artefact that embodies Maharashtra's valour and cultural identity," Shelar said.
