New gallery at CSMVS reflects a warrior’s legacy

While we often focus on battles and their victors we overlook the critical role of the weapons that secured these victories Consider the sword that delivered the final blow to Hemu What if its edge had been blunt History might have taken a different course We dropped by the newly reopened Arms and Armour Gallery at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS that showcases the craftsmanship and intricacies of such weapons highlighting their crucial role in shaping the past Excerpts from our trailShield of gloryA fourknobbed shieldShields were used for offence and defence They were crafted from robust yet lightweight materials like wood bamboo iron and animal hides Shields were often intricately decorated with engraved designs damascening or semiprecious stones During conservation at this display a shieldrsquos gold damascening was revealed beneath grime Mechanical cleaning under a stereomicroscope restored its intricate ornamentation especially on the knobs However the shield that underwent conservation was not highlighted making it difficult to identifyAkbarrsquos shieldEmperor Akbarrsquos steel shield dates back to 1593 CE and is a grand display with gold damascening with the inscription lsquoBuland Iqbal Shehenshah Akbarrsquo Some shields displayed illustrations such as battle scenes while others like the animal hide shield featured decorative patterns and carvings They had different numbers of knobs some were adorned with what appeared to be gemstones A short explanatory note for these variations in the number of knobs would have helpedSharp insightSwords and hilts on display right ivory weapons In India swords were among the 14 ratnas of an emperor and were a symbol of his power and prestige Hilts of swords and daggers were often made from motherofpearl crystals jade ivory and were encrusted with precious and semiprecious stones Hilts were associated with specific sword types and featured a wide range of designs The pommel knob at the end could end in an animal or bird head or a pistol grip The meticulously curated hilt display in this gallery highlights technical terms like lsquopommelrsquo while explaining them using short informative captions The different hilts are welldetailed in reference to the blades such as the Delhi Shahi or Udaipuri hilt commonly found on the Indian tulwar enabling visitors to spot and comprehend their functionsMaratha mightWeapons are displayed against the backdrop of Shivaji Maharajrsquos portrait right A miniature of a Maratha navy boat PicsKanisha SoftaThe exhibit provides an indepth explanation of Maratha weapons and naval power It highlights how the Marathasrsquo choice of arms was shaped by their guerrilla warfare tactics resulting in a diverse collection of weapons It showcases several daggers used by Maratha sardars like the bichrsquohwa a curved blade dagger that was used along with waghnakh tiger claw in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajrsquos confrontation with Afzal Khan Another highlight is a portrait of Shivaji Maharaj in his battle attire with a katar tucked into his clothing and the Patta gauntlet sword with hilts protecting his hand up to the elbow This portrait offers viewers a clear understanding of how weapons were carried The detailed miniature of Maratha naval ships adorned with the Bhagwa flag representing Maratha colours shed light on the role that its navy played in their many victoriesKatar chronicleIndian punch daggers also known as katarKatars are Indian punchdaggers designed for close combat They provide a strong grip with their Hshaped handles with cross bars They were often tucked into the waistband and hidden The displayed katars were examples of fine craftsmanship their hilts were decorated with enamelling or repousseacute work The gallery presents a collection of intricately ornamented katars with detailed patterns or scenes such as soldiers on horseback or battle depictions carved on them Some katars have double or triple edges highlighting their exceptional craftsmanship and unique designA mixed bagA display of mixed weaponsThe gallery features a mixed weapon display set against a backdrop of newspaper clippings with weapons like guns mounted on them and bloodstains and rocks representing riots and bloodshed This setup complements the galleryrsquos aesthetic However the newspaper clippings focus on World War news and fail to adequately cover the early years of the Indian freedom struggleIndian newspapers from that period including Kesari The Bombay Chronicle or Hickyrsquos Bengal Gazette which reported on events like Bengalrsquos partition and the MorleyMinto Reforms are missing While the display adds dramatic flair it doesnrsquot align with the historical accuracy that the rest of the exhibition maintainsThe installation includes a screen displaying videos of arms and armour depicted in paintings and sculptures from the museumrsquos collection but the audio is in Marathi and Hindi which may pose challenges to those who are unfamiliar with either of these languages While itrsquos extensive the gun collection lacks detailed explanations of its types which is crucial given the significant role guns played in key events such as the 1857 Revolt and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre Despite these glitches the gallery makes for a meticulously organised sequence where the panels accurately reveal information while the brickladen walls help recreate the atmosphere of an old warscarred fortOn Monday to Sunday 1015 am to 6 pmAt Second floor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS Mahatma Gandhi Road Kala Ghoda FortEntry Museum ticket appliesAlso ReadThis Mumbaibased band is bringing Bastars folk music to the fore