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Oxford University Press apologises for ‘unverified statements’ on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 2003 book by historian James Laine

In December last year, the Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court quashed proceedings in 2005 petitions, as the Oxford University Press and two professors said they are ready to tender an unconditional apology to Udayanraje Bhosale.

2 min readUpdated: Jan 7, 2026 03:59 PM IST

In the order dated December 17, 2025, the court directed the applicant and the petitioners to publish the apology in Marathi and English dailies nationwide within 15 days of receipt of the order.

The Oxford University Press India (OUP) Tuesday tendered an apology to BJP MP and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Udayanraje Bhosale, over statements published in a 2003 book, Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, by American historian James Laine.

OUP issued the apology, published in newspapers, stating that some statements in the book regarding the revered king were ‘unverified’.

“It is hereby acknowledged that some statements regarding Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at page nos. 31, 33, 34 and 93 of the book were unverified. We sincerely regret publishing those statements. We hereby apologise to Shrimant Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale and the public at large, for any distress and anguish caused to him,” OUP said in the apology to Bhosale.

This comes after the Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court, in December last year, quashed proceedings in 2005 petitions, as the Oxford University Press and two professors said they are ready to tender an unconditional apology to Bhosale. The court also clarified that it did not decide the pleas on the merits of the case, and they were disposed of on the submissions of the lawyers from both parties.

In the order dated December 17, 2025, the court directed the applicant and the petitioners to publish the apology in Marathi and English dailies nationwide within 15 days of receipt of the order.

Laine, the Arnold H Lowe Professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College in Minnesota, US, personally apologised in 2003. “I love India and have devoted my life to the study of her culture. I have been thus deeply sorrowed by the fact that my recent book, Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, has caused such turmoil there. It was never my intention to defame the great Maharashtrian hero, and I had no desire to upset those for whom he is an emblem of regional and national pride, and I apologise for inadvertently doing so,” he said then.

Laine’s book caused considerable controversy in India upon its release for its remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his mother. Historians, as well as institutes like the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, were attacked over the book by political outfits such as the Shiv Sena and the Sambhaji Brigade.

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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