The Hindu : Plea to be filed for return of Shivaji's sword

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 23, 2004

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Plea to be filed for return of Shivaji's sword

PUNE, JAN. 22. The tussle for the ownership of the 350-year-old sword of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, which is part of the personal collection of the Queen of England, has reared its head once again with Barrister Bhaskar Ghorpade, India's Counsel in England, deciding to file a petition for its return.

Mr. Ghorpade, who is in India for a brief visit, said today that he would be filing the petition next week in England. The petition states that the sword is the cultural heritage of India and is of emotional value to the people here and hence should be returned as a "gesture of goodwill" and for cementing ties between India and England.

Clarifying that the petition was a request and not a demand and had no legal or political basis, Mr. Ghorpade said it would request the Queen to "extend graciousness on the occasion of her birthday."

According to historians, the famous sword came into the British hands after the capture of the Raigadh Fort in Maharashtra on June 7, 1818.

Mr. Ghorpade said he had the support of two organisations comprising people of Indian origin — `Abhinav Maharashtra' and `ARCHINDIA'. Mr. Ghorpade came into the limelight as India's Counsel when he won the famous Nataraja Case after a prolonged legal battle of 11 years and was successful in retrieving the idol for the country. — UNI

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