Bagh naka

Bagh nakha
A bagh nakha
Type	Claw
Place of origin	India

The bagh naka or panja (Marathi language: वाघनख / वाघनख्या, Hindi language: बाघ नख, Urdu language: باگھ نکھ‎ ) is a claw-like weapon from India designed to fit over the knuckles or be concealed under and against the palm. It consists of four or five curved blades affixed to a crossbar or glove, and is designed to slash through skin and muscle. It is believed to have been inspired by the armature of big cats, and the term bagh naka itself means tiger's claw in Hindi.

History

There are conflicting reports of the time period in which the bagh naka first appeared. Poisoned bagh naka had been used by the Rajput clans for assassinations. The most well-known usage of the weapon was by the first Maratha emperor Shivaji who used a bichuwa bagh naka to defeat the Bijapur general Afzal Khan. It was a popular weapon among the Nihang who wore it in their turbans and often held one in their left hand while wielding a larger weapon such as a sword in the right hand. It was recommended that Nihang women carry a bagh naka when going alone to dangerous areas.

While often associated with thieves and assassins, the bagh naka was also used by wrestlers in a form of fighting called naki ka kusti or "claw wrestling" which persisted even under British colonial rule. M. Rousselete, who visited Baroda in 1864, described "naki-ka-kausti" as one of the raja's favourite forms of entertainment.

The weapons, fitted into a kind of handle, were fastened by thongs to the closed right hand. The men, drunk with bhang or Indian hemp, rushed upon each other and tore like tigers at face and body; forehead-skins would hang like shreds; necks and ribs were laid open, and not infrequently one or both would bleed to death. The ruler's excitement on these occasions often grew to such a pitch that he could scarcely restrain himself from imitating the movements of the duellists.

After the Direct Action Day riots, the Bengali Hindu girls, in order to defend themselves, began to wear a kind of sharp weapon resembling bagh naka while going to school.

Variant construction

Several variations of bagh naka exist, including one in which the single crossbar is replaced by two plates hinged together; with an additional loop and claw for the thumb. Earliest bagh naka did not utilize loops for the fingers, rather round holes were punched through the central plate. Many bagh nakha also incorporated a spike or blade on one end of the crossbar. This form was known as a bichuwa bagh naka because the blade was based on that of the bichuwa (scorpion knife).

See also

• Karambit

Further reading

• "Weapons" by David Harding and "Weapons a Visual History of Arms and Armour" Doris Kindersley editions.