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Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Maharashtra government shells out Rs 47 lakh for 'Raghuji Sword'
Synopsis The Maharashtra government acquired the historic "Raghuji Sword" for Rs 47.15 lakh. This sword belonged to Raje Raghuji Bhonsle, founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur, who led the battle against the Nawab of Bengal in 1745. Sotheby's auctioned the basket-hilt sword (khanda) for 38,100 pounds, exceeding the initial estimate.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt spends Rs 47 lakh to acquire historic ‘Raghuji Sword' of Nagpur's Bhonsle dynasty
NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday acquired the famed ' Raghuji Sword ' for Rs 47.15 lakh, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced. The centuries-old weapon, once wielded by Raje Raghuji Bhonsle—the founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur—was secured through an intermediary due to technical complications, he said. Sharing the development on social media platform X, Fadnavis said, 'It is a historic sword belonging to Raje Raghuji Bhonsle , founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur, who in 1745 led the battle against the Nawab of Bengal.' — Dev_Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) The acquisition was made through an auction conducted by Sotheby's in London, where the basket-hilt sword—also known as a khanda—was sold for £38,100 (approximately Rs 40 lakh). According to the auction house, the pre-sale estimate ranged between £6,000 and £8,000. Sotheby's described the sword as having a 'slightly curved, European-style single-edged blade with two fullers and imitation maker's marks towards the forte,' along with a spine inlaid with gold and bearing Devanagari script. The hilt is overlaid with worked gold, and the grip is wrapped in green woven wool. According to the listing, 'The inscription in Devanagari script on the spine suggests that it was made for the Maratha general Raghuji Bhonsle (1739-55), who established a large kingdom centred on the city of Nagpur in the north of the Deccan.' The listing also noted the weapon's European-style blade, known in India as firanghi (Frankish), which were once prized in Indian courts. 'Swords mounted with European blades made in centres including Solingen in Germany and in Venice and Genoa were known as firanghi… William Hawkins, travelling in India from 1608–13, reported that Jahangir had 2,200 swords with German blades in his treasury,' it added, citing historical sources.
The Print
29-04-2025
- General
- The Print
Maha Govt shells out Rs 47 lakh for ‘Raghuji Sword'
The sword was acquired not directly but through an intermediary due to some technical problems, the CM said. It is a historic sword belonging to Raje Raghuji Bhonsle, founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur, who in 1745 led the battle against the Nawab of Bengal, Fadnavis said on X. Mumbai, Apr 29 (PTI) Maharashtra Government has acquired the famous 'Raghuji Sword' for Rs 47.15 lakh, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday. Sotheby's which conducted the auction on Tuesday, said on its portal that the basket-hilt sword (khanda) was sold for 38,100 pounds. The estimate before the auction was between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds, it added. 'The slightly curved, European-style single-edged blade with two fullers and imitation maker's marks towards the forte, the spine gold inlaid with Devanagari script, set in a traditional 'basket'-style hilt fully overlaid with worked gold, the grip covered in green woven wool,' is how the global auction house described the sword. 'The inscription in Devanagari script on the spine suggests that it was made for the Maratha general Raghuji Bhonsle (1739-55), who established a large kingdom centred on the city of Nagpur in the north of the Deccan,' it said. 'The long straight blade has been marked to appear European in origin. Indian imitations of European blades are in the Wallace Collection (inv. 1452, OA 1455, OA 1811 and OA 1873). Swords mounted with European blades made in centres including Solingen in Germany and in Venice and Genoa were known as firanghi (Frankish) and were sought after in Indian courts. 'William Hawkins, travelling in India from 1608-13, reported that Jahangir had 2200 swords with German blades in his treasury (William Foster (ed.), Early Travels on India, 1583-1619, Oxford University Press, 1921, p.103),' it said. PTI VT VT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
