Oxford Press Issues Apology for 2003 Book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sparking Widespread Protests
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Oxford University Press (India) has issued a public apology to Udayanraje Bhosale, a direct 13th-generation descendant of the legendary Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The apology comes nearly two decades after the publication of the English-language book 'Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India' in 2003. Written by American historian James Laine, the book sparked widespread protests in Maharashtra in 2004, particularly in Pune, where the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute was attacked. The publisher has acknowledged that certain statements about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, including those on pages 31, 33, 34, and 93, were published without proper verification. The notice expresses regret for the distress caused to Shivaji Maharaj's followers and apologises to Udayanraje Bhosale and the public at large. The book had also carried defamatory references to Rajmata Jijabai, Shivaji Maharaj's mother. Oxford University Press has taken this step to rectify past mistakes and show respect for the historical figure and his legacy.
