An event scheduled to be held in Agra to felicitate International Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree was cancelled after some random Hathras resident filed a police complaint against her award winning novel 'Ret Samadhi' ( Tombs of Sand). The Sanghi alleged that the book contains derogatory and objectionable comments about Hindu gods and goddesses which had hurt his religious sentiments. It is a matter of extreme shame that instead of honouring her we are criticizing a globally acclaimed novelist, in fact she should have been feted by everyone in the land. 'Sentiments have been hurt' and ' toxic intolerance ' has become our national pastime/sport in this country of @ 1.4 billion. A cursory examination of our ancestral records and mythological texts would show us that Indians had been very liberal as regards to matters of drinking, meat consumption, human relationships, physical display of affection and other present day 'contentious' issues. What is dangerous is not that sentiments have been hurt, but the fact that he/she can file an FIR secure in the knowledge that the law enforcement authorities, the police and the judiciary would take cognisance of such matters and punish the ' guilty'
