The ‘Paithani’ saree, Maharashtra’s famed handwoven textile often hailed as the ‘Queen of Sarees’, will soon be displayed at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). The decision follows a proposal made by Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar during his visit to the UK.
Minister’s Visit and Discussions with V&A
Shelar, who is currently in London to acquire the historic sword of Maratha chieftain Raghuji Raje Bhosale, visited the V&A on Monday and met with museum director Mr. Hunt and the museum’s conservator. The discussions, he said, yielded several positive outcomes.
Concerns Over Returning Artefacts
Highlighting one of the issues raised, Shelar recalled that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s iconic ‘Wagh Nakh’ (tiger claws) had been loaned to Maharashtra for three years but must eventually be returned.
“Such situations should not arise in the future. Therefore, we discussed the possibility of obtaining other important artefacts from the V&A on longer-term loans,” he said.
Collaboration on New State Museum in Mumbai
In another significant development, the V&A has agreed to serve as a consulting expert for the upcoming state museum in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Maharashtra’s cultural department is working to formalise this collaboration through a formal agreement.
Paithani Saree and Handloom Exhibitions Approved
Shelar also proposed that the museum showcase the Paithani saree—a request that was promptly accepted.
“In the future, along with the Paithani, exhibitions of Maharashtra’s handloom textiles will also be displayed at the V&A,” he said.
