The Hindu : National : Maharashtra bans another book on Shivaji, copies seized

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

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Maharashtra bans another book on Shivaji, copies seized

Special Correspondent

This is American author James Laine's second work to be banned in the State The book calls Shivaji "an oedipal rebel...," says lawyer of the King's 13th descendant

MUMBAI: Police seized 24 copies of James Laine's book, Epic of Shivaji, from publisher Orient Longman on Tuesday after the Maharashtra Government banned the book.

It was banned on Monday under Section 95 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This is the second book by the American author to be banned in the State.

In January 2004, the other book, Shivaji: Hindu King in Muslim India, was banned because of alleged derogatory remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji, a historic figure of Maharashtra, and his mother.

"The second book calls Shivaji an oedipal rebel and therefore we sought the ban in a complaint to the Deputy Chief Minister, R.R. Patil," said P.N. Godge, lawyer of Shivaji's 13th descendant, Udayan Raje Bhosale. Mr. Bhosale is a party in the case against the first book.

Squadron Leader Arvind Sawant, a retired Air Force officer, had filed an FIR against the author of the book with the Pune police six months ago but the latter did not take cognisance of the complaint. He alleged that Mr. Laine had suggested in the book that Shivaji had an illicit relation with his mother.

Epic of Shivaji was published in 2001, much before the controversy and resultant violence generated by Shivaji: Hindu King in Muslim India. A mob of Shambhaji Brigade and Maratha Mahasangh had attacked Bhandarkar Institute of Oriental Research in Pune as some scholars there had reportedly collaborated with Mr. Laine.

Even after the ban, the book had been causing bad blood between the ruling and Opposition parties with each side blaming the other for the publication and distribution of the book. But the Epic of Shivaji did not attract any attention then and the book continued to be sold in Maharashtra. The Government said in a press note that the book had hurt the feelings of the people.

"The Government has taken serious note of writings on Chhatrapati Shivaji and his parents which are objectionable, in bad taste and done with ill-motive. The distribution of the book having mischievous writing could threaten law and order and overall stability in the society," it said.

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