It is a popular legend that when Shivaji and Afzalkhan met, Shivaji killed Afzalkhan using a weapon commonly known as Tiger-Claws. Before, we go into unfolding the events pertaining to this historical meeting and of the historical battle of Pratapgad, I wanted to throw in couple of my arguments for why it cannot be a tiger-claw.
This below is the picture of the Tiger Claws. As you can see, it is wore like rings in your fingers and it gives out sharp metal claws on the inner [or outer] surface of your palms. Let us also note that these metal claws cannot be folded and this weapon was also not so sophisticated in those days as to hide the claws in some aperture and take them out whenever you want by automatic push of some button. I mean, imagine Logan from X-Men taking out his claws from knuckles as and when he wanted. THAT was NOT the case with Tiger-Claws.
To start with the arguments, let us have the basic assumption that both Shivaji and Afzalkhan showcased that they trust each others words and none of them asked for frisking the opponent to find any hidden weapons. Else, Daggers carried by both of them would have been discovered before the meeting itself.
Furthermore, we already know that Afzalkhan was to be seated first in the tent and Shivaji came in later.
Argument One:
So, when we are to greet anyone, as a gesture of upcoming friendship, a new alliance, how would we do it?
Firstly, we would have to go in front of the other person, with OPEN arms [which also means with open palms that are facing the opponent].
Take a look at these pictures below. First one is from an old movie showing Shivaji and Afzalkhan approaching each other, second one is a picture showing the meeting between Shivaji and Mirza Raje Jaisingh.
Both these pictures clearly show that when greeting each other by an embrace, the two people have to have open palms. If Shivaji entered the meeting tent with open palms, did Afzalkhan really NOT notice the Tiger-Claw?? I doubt that he would not notice such a thing.
Argument Two:
When we are embracing other person, one hand [usually the right hand for the right-handed person] is above the other person's arm and towards the back of the other person and other hand is under the arm.
Using both the palms which are close to each other at the back, it is possible to take out a dagger hidden in one of the sleeves. But if your right hand is already above the other persons arm and left arm is under the other persons arm, is it possible for you to reach the front torso of that person to use a tiger claw?
This is a picture of a normal embrace and following it is the pictorial depiction of the use of tiger claw. Even if we are to assume that Afzalkhan did not notice the tiger claw on Shivaji's palms, If we take a look at both these pictures, is it possible to go from stance in the first to the stance in the second within a fraction of the moment, that too when the person opposite is mighty Afzalkhan? I think not.
The tiger-claw movement was only possible if like in the below picture, Afzalkhan had both his hands wrapped around Shivaji, but that would not be the case. It had to be one hand only. Besides, once his dagger had penetrated Afzalkhan, Shivaji knew that his men would take care of finishing the job. There was no need for Shivaji to maintain a variety of weapons in his assault plan.
Anyways, that's just me and now that I had this platform, I wanted to put forth my views on the entire Tiger-Claw tale.
Next Chapter will be the last of this series, wherein we will take a look at the grand finale of Pratapgad battle.
Stay tuned readers. We are almost there :-)
This below is the picture of the Tiger Claws. As you can see, it is wore like rings in your fingers and it gives out sharp metal claws on the inner [or outer] surface of your palms. Let us also note that these metal claws cannot be folded and this weapon was also not so sophisticated in those days as to hide the claws in some aperture and take them out whenever you want by automatic push of some button. I mean, imagine Logan from X-Men taking out his claws from knuckles as and when he wanted. THAT was NOT the case with Tiger-Claws.
Furthermore, we already know that Afzalkhan was to be seated first in the tent and Shivaji came in later.
Argument One:
So, when we are to greet anyone, as a gesture of upcoming friendship, a new alliance, how would we do it?
Firstly, we would have to go in front of the other person, with OPEN arms [which also means with open palms that are facing the opponent].
Take a look at these pictures below. First one is from an old movie showing Shivaji and Afzalkhan approaching each other, second one is a picture showing the meeting between Shivaji and Mirza Raje Jaisingh.
Both these pictures clearly show that when greeting each other by an embrace, the two people have to have open palms. If Shivaji entered the meeting tent with open palms, did Afzalkhan really NOT notice the Tiger-Claw?? I doubt that he would not notice such a thing.Argument Two:
When we are embracing other person, one hand [usually the right hand for the right-handed person] is above the other person's arm and towards the back of the other person and other hand is under the arm.
Using both the palms which are close to each other at the back, it is possible to take out a dagger hidden in one of the sleeves. But if your right hand is already above the other persons arm and left arm is under the other persons arm, is it possible for you to reach the front torso of that person to use a tiger claw?
This is a picture of a normal embrace and following it is the pictorial depiction of the use of tiger claw. Even if we are to assume that Afzalkhan did not notice the tiger claw on Shivaji's palms, If we take a look at both these pictures, is it possible to go from stance in the first to the stance in the second within a fraction of the moment, that too when the person opposite is mighty Afzalkhan? I think not.
The tiger-claw movement was only possible if like in the below picture, Afzalkhan had both his hands wrapped around Shivaji, but that would not be the case. It had to be one hand only. Besides, once his dagger had penetrated Afzalkhan, Shivaji knew that his men would take care of finishing the job. There was no need for Shivaji to maintain a variety of weapons in his assault plan.
Anyways, that's just me and now that I had this platform, I wanted to put forth my views on the entire Tiger-Claw tale.
Next Chapter will be the last of this series, wherein we will take a look at the grand finale of Pratapgad battle.
Stay tuned readers. We are almost there :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment