The Maharashtra Government has acquired the famous "Raghuji Sword" of the 18th century Maratha general Raghuji Bhonsle for Rs 47.15 lakh at an auction in London, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday.
Raje Raghuji Bhonsle, founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur, had in 1745 led the battle against the Nawab of Bengal, D Fadnavis said on X.
The sword was acquired not directly but through an intermediary due to some technical issues, the CM said.
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. Nos.OA 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.
Raje Mudhoji Bhonsle of the Nagpur royal family congratulated and thanked the Maharashtra government for acquiring the sword.
His representatives also took part in the bidding process on his behalf and had bid up to Rs 35 lakh, the member of the erstwhile royal family told the media.
He had requested the state and central government to help with getting the sword back to the country, and chief minister D Fadnavis called him and assured that it will be brought back, Mr Bhonsle added.
"I want to thank chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, culture minister Ashish Shelar and their entire team on behalf of Nagpur Bhonsle royal family. It is a proud moment that our heritage is coming back," he said.
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