<p>Responding to a legal notice served on publishers Roli Books on behalf of Tully and Ebury Press, publishers of the former BBC correspondent’s book “India’s Unending Journey”, the author who wrote under the pseudonym John MacLithon said Luyt’s character had been modelled on a number of foreign correspondents then based in Delhi, including Tiziano Terzani, François Gautier, Tully, Bernard Imhasly and John Elliott.<br /><br />“It is however true that Mark Tully has uttered in his time quite a few strong statements on the need for India to retain its Hindu identity though he may regret them today in Sonia Gandhi’s India,” MacLithon said, in his communication released to the media.<br /><br />The book had created a controversy after it was surmised that Luyt, who makes certain comments on India’s Hindu identity, was modelled on Mark Tully. <br /><br />“One of the purposes of my writing “Hindutva, Sex & Adventures” was to recount the difficult, dangerous and adventurous travails of a foreign correspondent posted in South Asia in the 80s and 90s, the period in which the book is set,” the author who calls himself MacLithon said.<br /><br />There were reports suggesting that French journalist Francois Gautier could be the man behind the name MacLithon, but Gautier has denied any connection with the book or the controversy.<br /><br />“Hindus are one of the most ancient people in the world, spiritual, tolerant, open hearted, as well as one of the most persecuted. This book was written to render justice to them. But sadly, after nearly 300 years of British rule, Indians seem to have blindly borrowed the Western concept of secularism, a colonial hangover, but not recognised the wealth they had,” MacLithon said.<br /></p>
<p>Responding to a legal notice served on publishers Roli Books on behalf of Tully and Ebury Press, publishers of the former BBC correspondent’s book “India’s Unending Journey”, the author who wrote under the pseudonym John MacLithon said Luyt’s character had been modelled on a number of foreign correspondents then based in Delhi, including Tiziano Terzani, François Gautier, Tully, Bernard Imhasly and John Elliott.<br /><br />“It is however true that Mark Tully has uttered in his time quite a few strong statements on the need for India to retain its Hindu identity though he may regret them today in Sonia Gandhi’s India,” MacLithon said, in his communication released to the media.<br /><br />The book had created a controversy after it was surmised that Luyt, who makes certain comments on India’s Hindu identity, was modelled on Mark Tully. <br /><br />“One of the purposes of my writing “Hindutva, Sex & Adventures” was to recount the difficult, dangerous and adventurous travails of a foreign correspondent posted in South Asia in the 80s and 90s, the period in which the book is set,” the author who calls himself MacLithon said.<br /><br />There were reports suggesting that French journalist Francois Gautier could be the man behind the name MacLithon, but Gautier has denied any connection with the book or the controversy.<br /><br />“Hindus are one of the most ancient people in the world, spiritual, tolerant, open hearted, as well as one of the most persecuted. This book was written to render justice to them. But sadly, after nearly 300 years of British rule, Indians seem to have blindly borrowed the Western concept of secularism, a colonial hangover, but not recognised the wealth they had,” MacLithon said.<br /></p>
