A year after it was acquired, sword of Raghuji Bhonsle I still in Mumbai

Nagpur: A year after the Maharashtra govt acquired the historic sword of Maratha general Shrimant Raghuji Bhonsle I at a London auction in April 2025 for over Rs47 lakh, the prized artefact still remains still hasn't reach Nagpur. Raghuji Bhonsle I had founded the Bhonsle dynasty in Nagpur and was key figure in the eastward expansion of the Maratha Empire into regions such as Bengal, Odisha and parts of central India. When the govt acquired the sword, it was seen as a significant cultural recovery. But its journey to Nagpur has remained uncertain. There had been speculations over possible dates, including Dussehra and the end of 2025, but the wait continues for official public display in Nagpur.The artefact was exhibited in Mumbai in August last year and still remains there. At a recent event at the senior Bhonsle Palace in February, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that the swords will come to Nagpur. He said, "You decide the date — the sword will come to Nagpur on that date. I promise you." Shrimant Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle, a descendant of Raghuji Bhonsle I , told TOI, "We are in constant touch with state authorities, including CM Fadnavis and cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar. The sword will be soon brought to Nagpur for public display."Sources said Mudhoji Raje was in Mumbai last week and was scheduled to meet Shelar to discuss the matter. The only pending aspect is finalising a mutually convenient date involving the CM, the Bhonsle family, the minister and senior state officials, after which a formal public event is expected to be organised, they said.For many in Nagpur, the sword is not merely a historical object but a symbol of the city's political and cultural origins. Its absence continues to be felt beyond ceremonial value. For now, what was projected as a historic homecoming remains incomplete.