Oxford University Press (OUP) India said on Tuesday that it regretted publishing “unverified statements” about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, following objections raised by Udayanraje Bhosale, the 13th descendant of the Maratha king. In a public notice published in a newspaper, OUP India said that some statements appearing on pages 31, 33, 34 and 93 of the book, written by American author James Laine and published in 2003, were not adequately verified. Protesters alleged that the institute had assisted Laine in writing the book, which they claimed contained objectionable remarks about Shivaji Maharaj. OUP India’s apology marks a rare public acknowledgment related to the long-running controversy. The apology was issued on behalf of the OUP's former Managing Director, Sayeed Manzar Khan, the notice said.

Source: The Telegraph January 07, 2026 04:57 UTC