OUP Apologizes for Controversial Shivaji Book After 20-Year Legal Battle

• Oxford University Press (OUP) India issued a public apology for its 2003 book *Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India*, admitting unverified statements.
• The apology came after a 20-year legal battle, following directions from the Kolhapur bench of the Bombay High Court in a defamation case.
• The book, by James Laine, contained references to Shivaji Maharaj's lineage and personal life deemed offensive by the Maratha community.
• Controversy led to the 2004 vandalism of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune and a 2005 defamation complaint by BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale.
• OUP India stated the book was withdrawn early, and the author James Laine had also previously apologized for unintended offense.

Why It Matters: OUP's apology highlights the long-standing conflict between academic freedom and cultural sensitivities.