Indo-Judaic Studies in the Twenty-First Century: A View from the Margin Book

I was gleefully surprised to find this book freely available online. It is a short 110 paged book that can be read in single sitting. After reading it becomes quite obvious as to why the establishment does not want the people to read this gem. Since the "touchy issue" of shivaji's birth discussed in this book, barely qualifies as a controversy, no point reviewing about it. The author has much more to suggest through historical evidence which shatters many myths surrounding maharashtra's demigod, shivaji.

Shivaji is often shown to be a disciple of either ramdas or tukaram. However, the historic records and evidence presented in this book suggests that let alone shivaji being a disciple of either , it is highly unlikely that shivaji ever met tukaram or ramdas in his entire lifetime!

The author points to the glaring cracks in the narrativex of establishment historians who suggest that shivaji fought for Hinduism, as we know today, or for present day Maharashtra. Laine answers various questions such as Whether shivaji had a unhappy family life? Whether he had a harem? Whether Shivaji was uninterested in the bhakti movement? Was shivaji fighting for a personal kingdom and not to liberate a nation? Did shivaji lived in a cosmopolitan islamicate world and did little to change that fact?

These questions above answered through reviewing historic evidence was bound to knock the daylights out of powers that be. This book makes you ponder about the establishment narrative and makes you feel sad at the same time as to how heroes like shivaji are relegated as political mascots.