Pune Publisher Destroys 45,000 Unauthorised Copies of Govind Pansare’s Book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

A Pune-based publisher has destroyed 45,000 copies of a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj written by slain left leader Govind Pansare after his family alleged copyright violations and content tampering. The controversy erupted when the Pansare family accused the publisher of printing the book without permission and altering the original content.

The Pansare family held a press conference on Monday at Kolhapur, where they detailed the unauthorized printing and alterations made by the publisher. Uma Pansare, the late author’s wife who holds the publishing rights, and her daughter, Smita Pansare, addressed the media, highlighting the serious nature of the copyright infringement and the distortion of the text.

Sharad Ashtekar, the owner of Pune-based Madhushree Publication, admitted to the mistake and took full responsibility. “We found a PDF of the book online and decided to print it with the intention of making it available at a low cost. We realized our mistake after the press conference and immediately destroyed all 45,000 copies,” Ashtekar told the media.

The Pansare family’s concerns went beyond just the lack of permission. They alleged that key chapters were omitted and sections of the book, which was first written in 1988 and revised multiple times, were altered, changing the context of Pansare’s writings. Smita Pansare, Govind Pansare’s daughter, emphasized that only three publishers are authorized to print the latest editions of the book. “The Pune publisher did not take permission to print the book. Moreover, the printed book is an old edition, which was revised by my father regularly before he passed away. We will send a legal notice to the publisher asking him to take back any remaining copies and destroy them,” she stated.

Prashant Ambi of Sau Publications, one of the authorized publishers, supported the family’s claims. “We found that important chapters were deleted in the book printed by the Pune-based publisher. History keeps changing, and changes are made based on documentary evidence. However, in this book, uncorrected facts have been published, which, when put together, will convey a different meaning about the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Ambi said.

The incident highlights the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and the potential consequences of unauthorized publishing. It also underscores the need for publishers to verify the authenticity and accuracy of the content they produce, especially when dealing with historical and cultural works.

The Pansare family’s prompt action and the publisher’s quick response to destroy the unauthorised copies demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the integrity of Govind Pansare’s work and ensuring that readers have access to accurate and authorized editions of the book.