Oxford University Press apologises for “unverified” content on Shivaji Maharaj in 2003 book
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Oxford University Press (OUP) India has issued a formal apology to Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, over what it described as “unverified statements” in a book published more than two decades ago.
In a public notice published in a newspaper, OUP India acknowledged that certain statements appearing on pages 31, 33, 34, and 93 of Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India (2003), authored by American scholar James Laine, were not properly verified. The publisher expressed regret over their inclusion and apologised to Udayanraje Bhosale and to the public for any “distress and anguish” caused.
The book had sparked major controversy soon after its release.
In January 2004, more than 150 activists from the Sambhaji Brigade vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune, alleging that the institute had assisted the author in producing content they claimed contained objectionable references to Shivaji Maharaj.
According to the notice, the apology was issued on behalf of OUP India’s former Managing Director, Sayeed Manzar Khan. The statement marks a rare public acknowledgement by the publisher regarding the disputed content, nearly 22 years after the book’s publication and the ensuing backlash.