Booker winner’s Agra event cancelled after complaint over alleged remarks on Hindu deities
India Today
An event to honour International Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree was cancelled in Agra. The event was called off after a complaint was filed against her alleging there are some objectionable remarks about Hindu deities in her novel.
International Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree's event which was organised to honour her was cancelled in Agra on Saturday. The event was cancelled after a complaint was filed against the author for alleged objectionable comments about Hindu deities in her novel 'Ret Samadhi'. The felicitation event was to be organised at Panchtara Hotel in Agra.
The complaint was filed by Sandeep Kumar Pathak from Sadabad in Hathras district. The complainant has blamed Geetanjali Shree for alleged objectionable comments on Lord Shiva and mother Parvati.
“The event was called off due to a controversy over a complaint against the International Booker prize winner Geenjali Shree,” Anil Shukla, a functionary of Rangleela, said.
"During the JNU program in Delhi, some miscreants tried to create obstacles. Geetanjali Shree is deeply hurt by these incidents. The novel is being forcibly dragged into political controversy. Geenjali Shree has now decided not to participate in any public function for some time," Anil Shukla said, adding that the incident is a great loss to art and literature.
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"People are disappointed over the cancellation of the event. People from different walks of life wanted to meet and interact with Geetanjali Shree," Shukla said.
Rambharat Upadhyay, a spokesperson of the event, told news agency PTI that Sandeep Pathak in his complaint mentioned that the comments have 'hurt the sentiments of Hindus'.
