Why some are unhappy over dog statue near Shivaji's memorial
What's the story
A fresh controversy has hit the memorial of dog Waghya at the historic Raigad Fort.
The memorial was set up in the 1930s to pay tribute to Waghya's loyalty and bravery, who is believed to have jumped onto Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's funeral pyre and immolated himself in 1680.
But Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, descendant of Shivaji Maharaj and former Rajya Sabha MP, has now urged Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to remove the statue.
Memorial objection
Chhatrapati's descendant objects to dog memorial
In the March 22 letter, Sambhajiraje asked for Waghya's memorial to be removed before May 31.
"A few decades ago, a memorial of a dog named Waghya was erected near that of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Raigad Fort, his capital in the 17th century."
He further argued that there is no documentary evidence about Waghya, calling it an encroachment on the fort, legally preserved as a heritage structure.
Support
ASI backs Sambhajiraje's claims
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also supported Sambhajiraje's claims, saying there's no evidence or written proof for the dog's existence.
The former MP said he was disappointed over this memorial, which "demeans the legacy of the great Shivaji Maharaj."
He added that such a structure older than 100 years is protected as per ASI's policy and should be removed before it earns such status.
Memorial history
Waghya's tale: A mix of fact and legend
The story of Waghya (tiger) is a blend of reality and legend. He was supposedly a cross-breed dog of Shivaji Maharaj, remembered as the grieving dog who leaped into his pyre.
Waghya's narrative was also told in Rajsanyas, a play by acclaimed Marathi playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari.
In 1906, Indore's Prince Tukoji Holkar donated ₹5,000 for erecting Waghya's memorial near Chhatrapati Shivaji's samadhi at Raigad Fort in honor of the loyal pet.
Animal affection
Shivaji Maharaj's love for animals
According to reports, Shivaji Maharaj also inducted Mudhol Hound, a breed of indigenous dogs from Karnataka, into his army due to his love for them.
In February 2016, the Indian Army inducted a batch of Mudhol hound puppies into its Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) training center, where foreign breeds like Labrador and German Shepherd are trained before induction into service.