By Book or by Crook

Sensing a political opportunity, the Congress has joined Shiv Sena and MNS in demanding a permanent ban on the controversial book Shivaji: A Hindu King in Islamic India.

Sensing a political opportunity, the Congress has joined Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in demanding a permanent ban on the controversial book Shivaji: A Hindu King in Islamic India. Written by James Laine, the book reportedly has objectionable references to Shivaji’s parentage. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) lifted a ban on this book. Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray, MNS President Raj Thackeray and now the President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Manikrao Thakre, have all declared that they will not allow the book to be sold in Maharashtra, in spite of the SC ruling. They have also  warned bookstores against stocking it.

Maharashtra’s minister for home RR Patil (of the NCP) has even announced that the book’s printer, Oxford University Press, has assured him that it will not print any more copies. Playing to the saffron gallery, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan too has declared that the book will never be sold in Maharashtra. 

Interestingly, the descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji have not reacted to the controversy. Though some years ago Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale—13th direct descendant of the Maratha king—had said that he would file a defamation suit against Laine, the threat has not materialised. The silence is strange as he is Satara’s sitting MP (of the NCP) (Shivaji’s descendants ruled from Satara.) The apex court has come down strongly on the Maharashtra government’s decision to ban the book. It has termed the forfeiture of the book as invalid and said that the effect of words cannot be judged by weak minds. 

According to sources, leading bookstores will seek police protection to stock the book as they fear vandalism by political parties.