I apologise, says Laine

Laine, who wrote the banned Epic of Shivaji, says his aim was not to defame the Maratha king, reports S Gaikwad.

What is your reaction to the Maharashtra government's ban on your book?

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It is for intellectuals to decide whether they want books banned. I have no interest in criticising the government’s action.

Do you accept that Shivaji's description as an ‘Oedipal rebel’ was derogatory?

It was not meant to be derogatory. I did not use the word ‘Oedipal’ to compare Shivaji to a Greek hero, but in a broader literary sense, implying a conflict with his father. The 16th chapter of the Shivabharata, a text Shivaji authorised, discusses his differences with his father Shahaji.

Do you stand by what you have written?

The book is 386 pages long with a 40-page introduction. The vast majority of the book is a translation of the Sanskrit text authorised by Shivaji himself. If I wanted to defame him, why would I translate a text that Shivaji commissioned as a glorification of his deeds?

Would you apologise for the words you used to describe Shivaji?

Did the government seek any clarification from you before banning the book?

Some time ago, the publishers said that there were people offended by the use of the word ‘Oedipal.’ I told them I had no objection to the use of another word. I have had no contact with the government.