The historic sword of Raghuji I Bhonsle was reclaimed by the Maharashtra government that had earlier brought back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Wagh Nakh. This marks a remarkable milestone in the restoration of cultural heritage and it is the first time the state has repatriated a historical artefact by securing it through international auction.

Raghuji Bhonsle’s sword

The prized firangi sword features a straight, single-edged European blade and a richly decorated gold-inlaid Mulheri hilt. It carries a gold-engraved Devanagari inscription naming Shrimant Raghoji Bhonsle Senasahib Subha Firang. This rare ornamentation identifies it unmistakably as belonging to Raghuji I Bhonsle, the Eighteenth century Maratha commander and founder of the Nagpur Bhonsle dynasty.

On 29 April 2025, the sword was acquired in a Sotheby’s auction in London for approximately rupees 47.15 lakh, a figure inclusive of the hammer price, handling, transport, and insurance Maharashtra Culture Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, in coordination with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, swiftly activated diplomatic and administrative channels, including engaging an intermediary and working closely with the Bharatiya Embassy, to ensure the sword’s successful bid and repatriation. Officials hailed this as a historic victory, both for the state’s cultural identity and as a precedent for reclaiming Bharat’s heritage from abroad.

The sword, said to have left Bharat after the Battle of Sitabuldi in 1817 when the British East India Company overran the Nagpur Bhonsles and looted their treasures, will return to Maharashtra after over two centuries. It is scheduled to land at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, at 10 am on 18 August 2025, where it will be received with ceremonial honours. A grand bike rally, accompanied by a cultural procession titled Gad Garjana, will escort it to Dadar’s P.L. Deshpande Kala Academy.

Raghuji Bhonsle and his legacy

Raghuji I Bhonsle (1695–1755) was a powerful Maratha general and the founder of the Nagpur Bhonsle dynasty. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership. He expanded Maratha rule in eastern Bharat, including Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of south Bharat. He earned the title Senasahib Subha for his military achievements and strong governance. The sword now being brought back to Maharashtra is special because it has his name engraved in gold, combining European blade craftsmanship with Maratha-style decoration. This makes it not just a weapon, but a rare and valuable piece of history that shows both his personal legacy and skills of the artisans of that time.

Furthermore, bringing the sword back to Maharashtra is an important moment for the state’s cultural pride. It reconnects people with a key figure from their history and preserves a unique artifact for future generations. The return of this sword also inspires more efforts to recover other lost treasures, just as the state recently brought back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s wagh nakh and is trying to retrieve his Jagdamba sword. This sword is a symbol of Maratha courage, heritage, and identity that has survived across centuries and is returning to the place it deserves to be in.

How Shivchhatrapati’s Waghnakh was brought back

Ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, efforts have been made to reclaim Bharat’s treasures lying in museums abroad. In recent years, even the Maharashtra government has made major efforts to bring back historic artifacts linked to its warrior kings.

One of the most celebrated successes was the return of the legendary Wagh Nakh, the tiger-claw weapon used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1659 to kill Afzal Khan. Once kept by Maharaj’s descendants in Satara, it was taken away (read stolen) during the British era and eventually ended up in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 2023, the state government signed an agreement with the museum to bring it back. The weapon returned to Bharat in July 2024, arriving in Satara with great celebration and placed in a museum under tight security.

These efforts have revived public pride, strengthened cultural identity, and set a strong precedent for bringing back more treasures, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s famous Jagdamba sword still in the UK. We can expect more of our heritage returning home, where they rightfully belong, in the days to come.

(Featured Image Source: Drishti IAS)