Pune, August 5: The Maharashtra State Government is gearing up to launch a special currency reminiscent of the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja as a souvenir to mark the 350th anniversary of his Coronation Ceremony. The announcement was made by State Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar during his visit to Shivsrushti in Ambegaon (Budruk) today, where he engaged with representatives from various educational institutions.
Minister Mungantiwar urged educational institutes to encourage students to visit Shivsrushti to enhance awareness about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life. Trustees of Maharaja Shivchhatrapati Pratishthan, including Jagdish Kadam, Vineet Kuber, Sunil Mutalik, and Anil Pawar, Administrator of Shivsrushti, were present during the announcement.
Mungantiwar revealed that discussions have been held with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the launch of a currency named ‘Hon,’ hailing from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja’s era. This commemorative souvenir will be available in gold, silver, and copper formats. Additionally, a special Public Announcement System will be installed at the Mantralaya Complex in Mumbai from August 9th. This system will broadcast daily announcements related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, highlighting his significance and sharing historic events at 9:45 am every day.
To honor the momentous 350th anniversary of the coronation ceremony, the State Government is set to undertake over 100 initiatives. These include staging ‘Janata Raja,’ a grand play showcasing Chhatrapati Shivaji’s life, across all districts of the State. The focus will be on enhancing public involvement in activities related to the revered Maratha warrior king. The celebrations are not confined to Maharashtra; programs are also scheduled in other states within India, as well as countries like Dubai (UAE) and England.
Mungantiwar also shared that the British Government has agreed to return the historic ‘Tiger Nails’ (Wagh Nakh) used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and efforts are underway to secure the return of the ‘Jagdamba Sword.’ The Government is also considering the establishment of a significant museum in Mumbai, with the process of identifying suitable land for the project already initiated. With an estimated 88,000 historic items within Maharashtra, this museum could become a repository of invaluable historical artifacts.
