Responding to criticism that he did not deserve the Maharashtra Bhushan, the state’s highest civilian honour, historian Babasaheb Purandare told his detractors yesterday albeit in a very humble manner that he had worked meticulously to research the life of revered Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji, but adopted a style different from others because he wanted a cross section of society to understand the king and his achievements.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Governor Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao and Babasaheb Purandare at the ceremony yesterday. Pic/Rane Ashish