Wow! Grew up hearing tales of how Shivaji killed Afzal Khan with the ''wagh-nakh''. It's so great actually seeing it!

So the legendary "Bagh-nakh"'s are in Victoria & Albert at present

Is it supposed to be the same claw?

http://wweapons.blogspot.com/2011/02/bagh-nakh-or-wagh-nak-tiger-claw.html

Yes!

History has many versions of this encounter.

These are just plain wagh nakha similar to one used by Shivaji but not the SAME.. there is no evidence to prove they are the same...

The V&A narrative says: ..."The claws are accompanied by a fitted case that is inscribed: "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".

James Grant-Duff was the first person who attempted to chronicle and write about the Maratha history in English language.

It seams, "the other" versions are drafted later, as none was spared alive to leave.

Amazing... Giving me goosebumps

According to one version the two men embraced. When the giant Afzal Khan was trying to crush Shivaji in bearhug Shivaji tore out his bowels with the claws. Before the encounter Afzal Khan, having a premonition that he may not return alive killed all his wives, including one who tried tor un away...

the maratha version is that afzal tried to stab shivaji with a dagger after holding him in a welcoming bear-hug, in response to which shivaji ripped out his bowels with the tiger-claws. apparently, afzal staggered out, bleeding, crying 'dagaa, dagaa' (betrayal). however, there is no non-maratha version of this story, at least so far as i am aware. personally, i find it more plausible that afzal did not attack first, but rather it was shivaji who made the first move. (if the khan had made the first move to strike shivaji in a ostensibly diplomatic meeting, why'd he himself stagger around crying that he'd been betrayed?) a few years back, it had been afzal khan himself who had imprisoned shivaji's father, and was now threatening to wipe out the maratha fledgling kingdom by the vastly superior mughal army. apparently, the khan had vowed not to return without defeating and capturing shivaji, and a public vow by the khan indicated a commitment in totality. in response to this, shivaji decided that afzal could only be gotten better of through deception, and never through direct military confrontation. it is remarkable though that a king himself would venture to personally enter the camp of the enemy with barely 2-3 attendents, and take the full risk of conducting the assassination himself, in close proximity to the khan's personal guard, with all the dangers inherent to the situation. that too with this tiny little weapon. the plan could easily have failed, had the khan simply been wearing a mail-coat inside his clothes, and then it would have been shivaji's life on the line directly. so far as shivaji was concerned, it was kind of like a 'do or die' situation. it is to be noted that after assassinating the khan and routing his army, shivaji ordered that the khan be buried with full honors, with full islamic protocol and granted a place where he was to be buried with dignity. needs of realpolitik aside, there was an unambiguous and complete respect for an enemy who died in the line of duty.

One important detail is missing in above narrative.When Afzal Khan and Shivaji entered in bear hug Afzal drew out a dagger and attacked Shivaji but as Shivaji was wearing a protective headgear under his Jiretop the dagger slipped and caused a small nick. Immediately in a flash of a second Shivaji used the Wagh nakh to cut and distract Afzal from the bear hug and with his right hand Shivaji disemboweled Afzal by another weapon known as BICHWA.

yes, the mention of the bichwa is there in the legend, too. however, i have my doubts if the khan was the first one to attack. imo, shivaji had gone there expressly with the intent to assassinate the khan, and made the first strike. probably the detail of khan attacking shivaji first was added later to make it seem more palatable to the general population. however, imo, it is fully acceptable even if shivaji had been the first to strike, and there is nothing that lessens his reputation. obviously, there is no other way to fight a much powerful enemy bent on wiping you out, except by deception and guerilla warfare.

We generally tend to concentrate on this encounter between Afzal Khan and Shivaji but tend to ignore or unaware of the intricate planning of Shivaji who first with clever diplomatic moves snared Afzal khan to meet him in deep forested valley of Mahabaleshwar. He strategically placed his troops surrounding the Bijapur army.His instructions to his troops was precise .They were ordered to attack and wipe out the the Bijapur army as soon as they hear the sound of cannon fire.They were not to be worried about the outcome of the meeting of Afzal and Shivaji.The difference between Shivaji and others was that after his complete victory over Afzal Khan, he and his troops did not rest or started celebrating the victory but pursued the defeated army and enlarged Maratha kingdom up to Panhala adding many forts and increasing the area of there influence in Konkan also.In matter of few days Shivaji's kingdom was doubled in its size.He fortified the defenses of Panhala fort .He correctly anticipated that there would be a strong response from Adilshah who sent another army under Siddi Johar shortly.This time Shivaji waited at Panhala for the encounter so that his Swarajya would not have to face the consequences of marauding Bijapur troops. Shivaji's daring flight from Panhala to Wishalgad in the dead of the night is another thrilling and courageous episode.

@pankaj very interesting views from you. but trust me there are many versions of this encounter by european historians and i can quote you books which tell another story. and i also like to add that according to some sources Afzal Khan along with the famous syed banda also had a brahmin body guard who was also killed at this encounter.

Sameer : feel free to pour forth the stories! would be interesting to compile all versions here. I do know that the mediating lawyer who set up the meeting was a brahmin and he was the first one who raised the alarm when he witnessed the khan being attacked by shivaji.

Krishnaji Bhaskar a Brahmin accompanying Afzal was not his body guard but his wakil (counselor).He was also killed.There were many Maratha sardars present in Afzal khan's army.Some of them were relatives of Shivaji!

@pankaj this is a very sensitive issue for many people so I wont mind having a private discussion with u when we meet but not on fb.

fair enough. we also need to support the beer industry - that's our moral responsibility, which cannot be fulfilled only via fb ;)

LOL ! Cheers to that :)

>> (if the khan had made the first move to strike shivaji in a ostensibly diplomatic meeting, why'd he himself stagger around crying that he'd been betrayed? This behavior is not unknown. For example the Pakistani's are still crying after the war's that India attacked first. Although the matter is so recent history that no one believes them. A sore looser looking for moral outrage under the circumstances is quite natural.

Excellent design for total concealment.

Sameer again, the other versions by Europeans are referred from bijapur n mughal documents. These were obviously written to show Shivaji was wrong. And since these are the only written evidences Europeans referred them. Maratha versions are through word of mouth and unique everywhere. Since they were the only survivors, other stories are manipulated to save ijjat. Shivaji later performed some procedures in Hindu to wipe out paap of killing Brahmin. The logic used to that is supporters of kauravas were guinines, but they were supposed to be overcame as they took wrong side.

I hv also gone through other books' version and expressing here. "Shivaji went near Afjal crawling, crying, begging for life in the feet of Afjal, who lifted Shivaji in the feeling of forgiveness, then Shivaji attacked." This seams drafted later to show Shivaji down. Refer my earlier blogs. The same Shivaji insulted Aurangjeb "in his area" in front of all other sardars and also documented by mughal. This is contrast. The ranaway soldiers in ghats far away from Shivaji Afjal incidence, might hv made story to tell to Bijapur to save pride.

An interesting information.