Whose Sentiments are Hurt? There were similar voices when a fourty five year old woman sitting in a Gurudwara premises in Patiala was killed by a visitor unknown to her because her alleged drinking liquor within the premises ‘hurt his religious sentiments’. Her question was simple but direct: Who is entitled to ‘hurt religious sentiments? (https://thewire.in/law/insults-to-religion-without-deliberate-intention-not-offence-under-section-295a-ipc-tripura-hc)As an aside one can look at the long history of ‘hurt sentiments’ in this part of the world and its deeper roots in our societal mind-set. ( Page 4)The idea that Indians were especially predisposed to having their sentiments “hurt” or wounded was first elaborated upon by the Law Member in the East India Company, Thomas Babington Macaulay, in his draft note on the Indian Penal Code in 1837, almost two centuries ago.

Source: The Telegraph May 26, 2023 16:25 UTC