Date: Mon, 4 Apr 94 10:25:57 PDT
From: sallyh@Ludwig.intel.com (Sally Hambridge)
Message-Id: <9404041725.AA13548@Ludwig.intel.com>
To: uri@bunyip.com
Subject: Authentication Problems
I'm taking the liberty of forwarding this message, not because
it has anything to do with UR*, but becasue it points out the
problem of authentication of *ANY* resources, in this case, those
in print form.
Sally Hambridge
sallyh@ludwig.intel.com
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 1994 11:18:53 EDT
Reply-To: "Publishing E-Journals : Publishing, Archiving, and Access" <VPIEJ-L@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU>
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From: Frank Harris <fharri@osa.org>
Subject: The DELHI Oxford University Press
To: Multiple recipients of list VPIEJ-L <VPIEJ-L@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU>
Status: R
Dear Friends:
Would someone please tell me the person or e-mail address at Oxford
University Press where I can find out more about the following problem? I
hasten to add that Oxford University Press in England is the victim, not the
culprit.
I recently ordered some books from India, and I have noticed something very
disturbing. (Please do not be put off by the titles of these books. These
are books of some literary, historical, and I beleive, anthropological
importance.) The implications of this problenm may extend to the sciences.
In the books by Jim Corbett, "The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag," and
"Man-Eaters of Kumaon," the text has been altered in several places,
sometimes to the exact opposite of the meaning of the passage in the first
edition. In several places material has been cut. I suspect the total is
about 50 to 60 pages of altered or missing material.
There is a pattern to the alterations. Every passage that praises the Moslem
poor of India has been cut, as well as a few that reflect badly on the Hindu
elite. The final passage of the first book, which expressed little
confidence in the results of partitioning British India into India and
Pakistan, has been altered to express confidence in the ability of the
Gharwallis to rule all of India.
At no place is there warning that the text has been altered or abridged. The
only indication is the words "Hardcover edition (Reset) 1988." in the
printing history.
Has the real Oxford University Press taken any action to stop publication of
this butchered edition, or to restrict distribution? Do the present
computerized card catalogs have any way to indicate that this sort of fraud
has taken place?
These books are still available in 1994, and at 1/3 the price of other
editions (that may be the correct text). This has ominous implications for
any publisher who licenses a book or periodical to be printed in India. They
may not only alter the text, they may also undercut the legitimate price.
Sincerely,
Frank E. Harris fharri@osa.org
Optical Society of America fharris@aip.org
2010 Massachusetts AVE NW
Washington, DC 20036-1023 Phone - 202-416-1904
I express the above opinions as an individual, and not as the representative
of any organization or company.