New Delhi:
Vikram Seth, the storyteller who helped India capture the world's imagination, was one of NDTV's 25 greatest global legends honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee today.
The renowned author displayed his sparkling wit as he accepted the honour, beginning by thanking the President for "making us feel at home."
"Intolerance is violence and accepted intolerance is violence with the acquiescence of society," Mr Seth said, taking up a theme that has dominated public discourse this week, after the Supreme Court restored a 19th century ban on gay sex in India.
"Be yourself, you must go at heart with who you are. You must go with yourself, not with what someone tells you, not what an unjust law tells you," he said.
His parting shot: "My advice for the next generation is choose your parents well."