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“The Controversial Book by James Laine
should be banned”
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Appeals the BORI
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rashtramata Jijabai and Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Maharaj are the pride and inspiration of not only Maharashtra, but the whole
nation. American author James Laine has made some highly objectionable and
inflammatory statements about our revered deities in his book titled “Shivaji:
A Hindu King in Islamic India”. The ban on the book is recently recalled by
the Mumbai High Court. However, the Honorable Supreme Court, dealing with a
case involving
a different book, has recently given a Verdict to the effect - “In the case of
foreseen threat to public harmony, the Governments of States are authorized to
ban any book”. In the light of the same, the Regulating Council (RC) of the
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) has unanimously passed a
resolution with an appeal to the Government of Maharashtra to ban the said
book.
After the book was released in September 2003, Dr. M. K. Dhavalikar, a Trustee
of the BORI had brought the objectionable matter to the notice of the then RC
of the BORI. The RC had passed a unanimous resolution of condemnation and an
appeal to the Government of Maharashtra to ban
the book in a meeting conducted on December 4, 2003. A similar resolution was
passed by the current RC on December 2, 2005 under the chairmanship of Dr.
Vijay Bhatkar.
The honorable High Court had recalled the ban on the book on April 26, 2007.
Dr. M. G.
Dhadphale, the Honorary Secretary, BORI, had put an appeal to retain the ban on
the said book
to release in the Marathi daily ‘Sakal’ (April 18, 2007) and the English daily
‘The Maharashtra Herald’ (April 28, 2007) on behalf of the Institute.
With a view to introduce the world to the contribution of the BORI to Oriental
Academia, it had launched a website in 2003. In the vandalistic attack on
January 05, 2004, severe affliction was
caused to the rare books and manuscripts, etc. Numerous newspapers and journals
had covered
the event in the form of information and reactions. It has been found that some
such coverage
was mentioned in some links on the website. Unfortunately, the website was not
edited thereafter. We wish to clarify that the links are not directly related
to the BORI, and the BORI is not directly responsible for the matter in them.
However, we are much thankful to the Shivabhakta Loka-andolan Samiti for
bringing it to our notice that some of the links on the website mention some
matter from the objectionable book.
Immediately after the incidence was brought to our notice, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar,
the Chairman of the Regulating Council, issued orders to close down the related
webpage. This order has already been put to action.
The Institute deeply regrets the confusion arisen due to this mere error of
negligence. The BORI now plans to close the website down and launch a new one
that would highlight our goals for the time to come. We are also pleased to
announce that we wish to republish with English and
Marathi translations, the Budhabhuushana, a work by Chhatrapati Sambhaji,
published by us
in 1926.
The Institute also announces that the Institute will always be proud party to
any righteous and peaceful undertaking to uphold the honour of the revered and
legendary personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Maharaj and Raashtramaataa Jijabai, who
have truly maintained the glory of religious, cultural and historical legacy of
the nation.
Vijay Bhatkar,
Chairman
Regulating Council
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