In a significant appeal to preserve Nagpur’s heritage, Shrimant Dr. Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and State Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, urging immediate action to stop the auction of a historically significant sword associated with Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I, founder of the Nagpur Bhonsle kingdom.
The auction, being conducted by the London-based Sotheby’s, is scheduled to begin at 3 PM IST on April 29. In his letter, Dr. Bhonsle emphasized the cultural and emotional value of the artifact, calling for urgent intervention from both the Central and State governments. “The government should take the initiative and intervene to stop the auction so that the sword can be brought back to the city,” he stated.
According to sources at the Senior Bhonsla Palace, although Shrimant Dr. Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle will not participate personally, two of his representatives are bidding on his behalf to reclaim the heirloom.
The object of concern—a Basket-Hilt Sword (Khanda)—bears an inscription in Devanagari script identifying it as belonging to Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I. The engraving also refers to him as “Sena Saheb Subha,” underscoring the sword’s historic value.
Initially valued between £6,000 and £8,000 (approximately ₹7 to ₹9 lakh), the bid reportedly surged to £11,000 as per the latest update on Sotheby’s website, signaling heightened interest among collectors.
The appeal has triggered a wave of local sentiment, with historians and cultural advocates echoing the call for the sword’s return as a matter of regional pride and historical preservation.
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