Author used 'ghati' to spread message of secularism: Bombay HC

The use of word ‘ghati’ in the novel Breathless in Bombay actually spreads message of secularism, the Bombay high court recently ruled.

The author of the book, Murzban Shroff, was facing a criminal case for using the slang word ‘ghati’ for Maharashtrians in his debut novel.

The high court on June 22 quashed the case against him. In a 35-pages detailed judgment released on Thursday, justice VM Kanade observed: “At all times, the word ghati has been uttered by the villain. At the end of the story, the hero reprimands him for doing so. He explains to the villain that there is secular unity in our country. In no way has the use of the word affected the integrity of our country.

“The use of the word ghati is doltish rather than illiterate. And such a word is used only during conversation, as dialogue. On the contrary, it is seen that the writer has given the message of unity from the view point of secularism.”

Full report here DNA

Mumbai court orders probe into Shroff’s book

Despite an order from the Bombay High Court in his favour, trouble for Murzban Shroff, author of Breathless in Bombay, is far from over as a local court in Mumbai has now directed the city police’s crime branch to investigate if the book promotes communal disharmony.

The city police had lodged a case against Shroff for allegedly inciting communal disharmony by addressing Maharashtrians as ‘Ghaati’ (lowly) in his book.

Shroff had approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR lodged against him. Justice S. C. Dharmadhikari had observed that Mr. Shroff was just an author and not a trouble maker.

The N. M. Joshi Marg police station had informed the High Court that “they did not find any reason to prosecute the author and there is nothing offensive in the said book.”

Full report here Hindu