In a significant development, Oxford University Press India (OUP) has formally and publicly apologised for publishing what it termed as 'unverified statements' about the revered 17th-century Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The apology was directed towards Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament and descendant of Shivaji Maharaj, Shrimant Udayanraje Bhosale, as well as the general public.
The Court-Ordered Apology and Its Content
The apology was published in national Marathi and English newspapers on Tuesday, acting on a directive from the Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court. This legal action stemmed from petitions filed back in 2005 concerning the controversial 2003 book, Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, authored by American historian James W. Laine.
In its published statement, OUP explicitly acknowledged that certain passages on pages 31, 33, 34, and 93 of the book contained unverified claims about the legendary king. The publisher expressed sincere regret for publishing those statements and apologised for the distress and anguish caused to Bhosale and the public at large.
The High Court's order, dated December 17, 2025, had quashed the proceedings in the longstanding petitions after OUP and two professors involved indicated their readiness to tender an unconditional apology. The court mandated that the apology be published in newspapers across the country within 15 days of receiving the order. Importantly, the court clarified that it did not adjudicate the case on its merits but disposed of it based on the submissions made by the legal representatives from both sides.
A Legacy of Controversy and Violence
The publication of Laine's book over two decades ago ignited massive controversy and unrest in Maharashtra, particularly for its remarks about Shivaji Maharaj and his mother. The fallout was severe and extended far beyond academic debate.
Political outfits, including the Shiv Sena and the Sambhaji Brigade, targeted historians and institutions they believed had assisted Laine. The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune was allegedly vandalised by members of the Sambhaji Brigade, resulting in damage to priceless historical manuscripts, paintings, and artefacts. A sessions court in Pune later acquitted 68 individuals linked to the Brigade in connection with this vandalism in 2017.
In a separate incident in 2003, Shiv Sena members forcibly entered the office of Sanskrit scholar Dr. Shrikant Bahulkar at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, manhandled him, and blackened his face. His name had appeared in the book's acknowledgements.
Previous Apologies and the Author's Stance
It is noteworthy that James Laine, the Arnold H. Lowe Professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College in Minnesota, USA, had personally apologised shortly after the book's release in 2003. He stated that he loved India and was deeply sorrowed that his work had caused turmoil.
Laine emphasised that it was never his intention to defame the Maratha hero or upset those who hold him as an emblem of pride, apologising for inadvertently doing so. Despite this early apology from the author, the legal and public relations matter involving the publisher has only now reached a formal resolution through the court-directed public apology.
The episode underscores the intense emotional and cultural significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's legacy in India and the serious repercussions that historical narratives can trigger when perceived as disrespectful or inaccurate by the public.
