Oxford Press apologises for unverified Shivaji claims in 2003 book
Oxford Press apologises for unverified Shivaji claims in 2003 book
Oxford University Press India apologizes for unverified statements about Shivaji in a 2003 book after a Bombay High Court directive and a complaint by Shivaji's heir.
Oxford University Press India has issued a public apology for unverified statements about Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 2003 book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, authored by American historian James Laine. The apology comes after a directive from the Bombay High Court's Kolhapur bench in a case filed by Udayanraje Bhosale, the 13th-generation descendant of the Maratha king. The publisher noted that statements on pages 31, 33, 34 and 93 were not verified and expressed regret for publishing them.
OUP India said it was apologising to Udayanraje Bhosale and to the public at large for any distress caused. The case led to criminal defamation proceedings in 2005 against OUP's former managing director Sayeed Manzar Khan and others, highlighting the lasting sensitivity around historical narratives of Shivaji.
The apology marks a rare instance of a major publishing house acknowledging errors in a work decades after its release. It also underscores how scholarship and historical interpretation can be contested in courts, influencing public discourse about a revered figure in Indian history. This development may prompt publishers to re-examine past titles and consider clarifications or revisions in future printings, ensuring verifiability and responsible portrayal of historical figures.
