Latest news with #TheSatanicVerses
CNN
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Salman Rushdie Fast Facts
Here's a look at the life of Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie. Birth date: June 19, 1947 Birth place: Bombay (now Mumbai), India Birth name: Ahmed Salman Rushdie Father: Anis Ahmed Rushdie, businessman Mother: Negin Rushdie, teacher Marriages: Rachel Eliza Griffiths (2021-Present); Padma Lakshmi (2004-2007, divorced); Elizabeth West (1997-2004, divorced); Marianne Wiggins (1988-1993, divorced); Clarissa Luard (1976-1987, divorced) Children: with Elizabeth West: Milan; with Clarissa Luard: Zafar Education: King's College, University of Cambridge, graduated in 1968 Rushdie moved to England to attend Rugby School, where he experienced racist taunts and bullying from his classmates. Before becoming a full-time writer, Rushdie worked intermittently as an advertising copywriter in London. The 1988 release of Rushdie's book, 'The Satanic Verses,' was met with demonstrations, riots and bans in Muslim-majority countries for perceived blasphemy. Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict, in 1989 calling for the author and everybody who worked on the book to be killed. Ettore Capriolo, an Italian translator of the novel, was stabbed; Hitoshi Igarashi, a Japanese translator of 'The Satanic Verses,' was murdered; and William Nygaard, a Norwegian publisher, was shot and wounded. Following the 1989 fatwa, Rushdie went into hiding with the assistance of British police and was forced to limit public appearances and restrict his movements for over a decade. Rushdie created an alias for himself, 'Joseph Anton,' an amalgamation composed of two other writer's names: Joseph Conrad and Anton Checkov. In The Sunday Telegraph, Rushdie has stated that if he had not become a writer, his dream was to be an actor. 1975 - Rushdie's first novel, 'Grimus,' is published. 1981 - Wins the Booker Prize for 'Midnight's Children.' 1983 - 'Shame' is published. 1988 - 'The Satanic Verses' is published. February 14, 1989 - Ayatollah Khomeini issues a fatwa against Rushdie, calling for his murder. Rushdie goes into hiding with the assistance of British police. 1990 - 'Haroun and the Sea of Stories' is published. 1998 - The Iranian government pledges not to seek to carry out the fatwa on Rushdie. 2001 - Rushdie appears as himself in the film 'Bridget Jones's Diary.' 2006 - Joins Emory University's English Department as Distinguished Writer in Residence and begins teaching in 2007. June 16, 2007 - Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature. Rushdie collects his knighthood on June 25, 2008. 2011-2015 - Serves as University Distinguished Professor of the College of Arts and Sciences at Emory University. 2012 - The film adaptation of 'Midnight's Children' premieres. 2016 - Becomes a US citizen but retains British citizenship. August 12, 2022 - Rushdie is stabbed multiple times onstage before his scheduled lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. According to Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt, Rushdie suffers three stab wounds to his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a laceration on his right thigh. August 13, 2022 - Hadi Matar, 24, accused of stabbing Rushdie, pleads not guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and other charges. October 22, 2022 - According to Rushdie's literary agent Andrew Wylie, in an interview given to Spanish newspaper El País, Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and one of his hands is 'incapacitated' following the August 2022 attack. October 28, 2022 - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces new sanctions on the '15 Khordad Foundation' over the attack of Rushdie. February 6, 2023 - Rushdie gives an interview to The New Yorker, his first interview since he was severely injured in the 2022 stabbing attack. February 7, 2023 - Rushdie's 'Victory City' is published, his first book published since the attack. According to his publisher, Rushdie is not participating in a press tour. May 15, 2023 - In a rare public video message at The British Book Awards, Rushdie warns that freedom of expression is at risk. April 14, 2024 - Giving his first television interview since he was stabbed, Rushdie tells CBS' '60 Minutes' that he had a 'premonition' of the event just days beforehand. April 16, 2024 - 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,' Rushdie's memoir about the 2022 attack and his recovery, is published. February 11, 2025 - Rushdie testifies in court against Matar, showing a jury his blinded right eye. On May 16, Matar is found guilty of attempted murder and assault and is sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Midnight's warrior: Salman Rushdie's literary battles on and off the page
Consciously or not, Salman Rushdie, celebrated for Midnight's Children (1981) and infamous for The Satanic Verses (1988), has consistently been a man at war. Whether battling censorship, religious extremism, or cultural hypocrisy, he has never hesitated to wield his pen like a sword. And, has paid a steep price for it: a fatwa that forced him into hiding, a lawsuit brought by a prime minister, and most recently, a knife to the eye in an assassination attempt. Over the years, the 78-year-old winner of the Booker of Bookers (1993) and the Best of the Booker (2008) has been involved in several feuds, be it with political regimes: Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini (1989) and former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, or fellow writers and literary critics: John Updike, Marathi Jnanpith laureate Bhalchandra Nemade or John Carrie. Here are some of the feuds drawn from his own pen, his Twitter account, and public record: While Indira Gandhi and Salman Rushdie never met, their cold war was relegated to literary history after the latter immortalised the former Prime Minister as 'the Widow' in Midnight's Children. She was painted as a menacing, witchlike figure with whose 'hair has a centre-parting it is green on the left and on the right black,' who imprisons and castrates the titular Children of Midnight. Gandhi was far from amused and brought a libel suit in 1984 over a line that accused her of neglecting her late husband, Feroze Gandhi, to the point of hastening his death. Rushdie defended his choices: 'Literature can and must give the lie to official facts.' In an interview, he laughed off Gandhi's outrage: 'You are having a quarrel with a fictional character, with a boy who has a nightmare about a widow when he's a child, and then feels that she comes to life … don't ask me, ask him.' He was satisfied that the label 'Widow' had entered popular usage: 'It's always very nice to give an insult to the English language.' While Gandhi's legal team demanded redress, Rushdie said, 'I felt that I should have sent her a thank-you telegram for having completed my novel for me,' he quipped, referring to Gandhi's decision to end the Emergency and call elections, which allowed him to conclude the novel as he wished. In 2006, John Updike opened his New Yorker review of Shalimar the Clown with a groan. 'Why, oh why, did Salman Rushdie, in his new novel, call one of his major characters Maximilian Ophuls?' The name, Updike was suggesting, made it difficult to disentangle the character from the historic German film director, Max Ophüls, and by using the name he had turned both the man and the character into a caricature. 'Why not? Somewhere in Las Vegas there's probably a male prostitute called John Updike,' responded Rushdie, in an interview with The Guardian. He went on to criticise Updike's novel Terrorist as 'beyond awful' and suggested the critic return to 'his parochial neighborhood and write about wife-swapping, because it's what he can do.' Perhaps his most enduring feud was the one with the British author John le Carré, best known for his espionage novels. It all started in 1997, when le Carré, writing to The Guardian, complained about accusations of anti-Semitism in his novel The Tailor of Panama (1996). Rushdie responded by saying that le Carré had shown little solidarity when Rushdie faced the fatwa following the publication of The Satanic Verses. From there, the exchange spiralled. Rushdie called le Carré 'a pompous ass,' and Le Carré retaliated by accusing Rushdie of 'self-canonisation.' Their very public war of words continued for weeks, through the pages of The Guardian. Two decades later, Rushdie extended an olive branch at a literature festival, saying: 'I wish we hadn't done it. I think of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as one of the great novels of postwar Britain.' Le Carré responded in kind, saying: 'If I met Salman tomorrow, I would warmly shake the hand of a brilliant fellow writer.' Thus the two British authors put the feud to bed. Grumpy old bastard. Just take your prize and say thank you nicely. I doubt you've even read the work you attack. — Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) February 6, 2015 In 2015, after Marathi novelist Bhalchandra Nemade won the Jnanpith Award, he said Salman Rushdie and VS Naipaul were 'pandering to the West' and declared that Rushdie had 'written nothing worthwhile since Midnight's Children.' Nemade was also in favour of eliminating English from Indian school curricula and dismissed the idea of Indian-English literature as inferior to vernacular writing. Rushdie took to Twitter to respond. Calling him a 'grumpy old' man, he wrote: 'Grumpy old … Just take your prize and say thank you nicely. I doubt you've even read the work you attack.' The same year, six writers—Peter Carey, Michael Ondaatje, Rachel Kushner, Teju Cole, Francine Prose, and Taiye Selasi—boycotted a PEN American Center gala honouring Charlie Hebdo, following the deadly terrorist attack on the magazine's staff. .@JohnTheLeftist @NickCohen4 The award will be given. PEN is holding firm. Just 6 pussies. Six Authors in Search of a bit of Character. — Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) April 27, 2015 Carey said the award 'went way beyond PEN's role of protecting writers against government oppression,' accusing the organisation of 'cultural arrogance.' Rushdie, a longtime champion of PEN and defender of free speech, responded with a misogynistic slur: 'Just 6 …… Six Authors in Search of a bit of Character,' he tweeted. He later said: 'These six writers have made themselves the fellow travellers of [fanatical Islam]. Very, very bad move.' Aishwarya Khosla is a journalist currently serving as Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. Her writings examine the interplay of culture, identity, and politics. She began her career at the Hindustan Times, where she covered books, theatre, culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Her editorial expertise spans the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Online desks. She was the recipient of the The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections, where she studied political campaigns, policy research, political strategy and communications for a year. She pens The Indian Express newsletter, Meanwhile, Back Home. Write to her at or You can follow her on Instagram: @ink_and_ideology, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More
The Print
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Turkey's looking more like Pakistan every day. Blasphemy-obsessed, imprisoned by hatred
Though no one was killed in the violence, it is becoming clear that Turkey, once the progressive cultural powerhouse of the Middle East, is starting to look a little more like Pakistan each week. The country's septuagenarian ruler, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is even working to dismantle the constitution , which mandates that 'sacred religious feelings shall absolutely not be involved in state affairs and politics as required by the principle of secularism'. Earlier this week, police in Istanbul fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a mob seeking to attack a bar where staff of the magazine had retreated after the supposedly blasphemous cartoon went to print. The country's interior minister Ali Yerlikaya has promised legal action against the cartoonist, graphic designer, and editors of LeMan , vowing that 'these shameless individuals will be held accountable before the law'. The inferno lies below, a landscape made up of bombs, fire, and rubble. Their wings elevating them above the carnage, two angels—one bearing the name of the Prophet of Islam and the other of the Israelites—wish each other peace. The cartoon, published in the Turkish satirical magazine LeMan , is open to readings. Is it that those condemned to live in war can only discover their shared humanity after being liberated from life? Alternately, is it that the angels have abandoned their followers on earth, learning that piety cannot tame the savagery of the faithful? Extreme religious violence isn't unknown in Turkey. Thirty-seven people were burned to death in 1993 after mobs attacked a cultural festival of the Alevi sect, attended among others by the Turkish translator of Salman Rushdie's book, The Satanic Verses. The proscription of books, arrests of opposition leaders, and the repression of ethnic minorities have been an ugly feature of Turkey's republic. However, its social and cultural life remains highly sophisticated and liberal, and not just by the standards of the grim Middle East despotisms. Erdoğan's true legacy, the violence in Istanbul suggests, might be demolishing the foundations on which Turkey's pluralism has rested. Decline of the republic Kemal Atatürk's epoch-defining construction of republican Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire aimed to create a new civilisation that could negotiate the industrial world. The religious orders that wielded enormous influence in the imperial era were closed down in 1925. Far-reaching reforms were introduced on how men and women ought to dress, including the rejection of the traditional Fez cap and encouraging women to give up the Peçe (headscarf) and Çarşaf (a loose-fitting outer garment). In 1928, the Latin alphabet replaced the Arabic script, a tool to demolish the power of the clerical class. The same year, Islam was removed as the state religion. For Atatürk, it seemed that the reconstruction of Islam itself was necessary. So he established the Presidency of Religious Affairs to oversee religious affairs. The clergy were transformed into state employees, responsible for delivering sermons dictated by the authorities. Imams were ordered to allow musical instruments into mosques, and failing that, were provided with gramophones and records. Even the wearing of shoes inside mosques was encouraged. This state-enforced religion, scholar Nevzet Çelik noted in a thoughtful essay, brought about enormous transformation—but it also stifled the organic evolution of civic life and marked secularism with the taint of authoritarianism. As Atatürk's legacy faded, and Turkey became more shaped by Cold War anticommunism, religion became a language of protest for the peasantry and bourgeoisie. According to historian David Tonge, from 1980 onward, things began to come to a head. The faltering economy fed communal tensions. Fifty died in massacres in Çorum, where Turkish ultranationalists attacked Alevis. As Left-wing groups battled fascists on the streets, the fights claimed dozens of lives every day. The opposition politician Necmettin Erbakan used Islam to attack Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, calling for Turkey to be made an Islamic State. The military stepped in to end the chaos: Turkey woke up on 12 September 1980 to find itself under military rule. To some, this seemed just a passing phase. The country had, after all, been subjected to coups in 1960 and 1971. The Generals hadn't even troubled themselves to send out the tanks the second time, simply sending a memorandum to the parliament. Also read: Pakistan suffers violence of its own making. West's refusal to learn is even more tragic A change of destiny Led by General Kenan Evren, the National Security Council realised it needed to come to terms with the social forces sweeping Turkey. Though secularism continued to be promoted as a guiding principle, religious education was reintroduced in primary and secondary schools. The government of Prime Minister Turgut Özal, which was elected in 1983, also instrumentalised religion. His education minister Vehbi Dinçerler banned the teaching of evolution and instructed clerical schools to teach that Turks had been 'leaders in the rise and dissemination of Islam throughout the world'. Later, Özal became the first Prime Minister of Turkey to make the Hajj pilgrimage while in office, leading a delegation of several hundred Members of Parliament and senior civil servants. The opposition media, Tonge writes, savaged Özal, publishing pictures of him in his white, ritual ihram towels, contrasted with his wife in a cocktail dress, smoking one of her trademark cigars. Erbakan's rise to power in 1996 marked a further shift in political direction away from secularism. His first trip abroad was to Tehran, in defiance of the United States, and then to Libya. He also tried to launch a D8 group of Muslim nations, as an alternative to the West's G7 group of economically developed countries. The ban on female civil servants wearing the headscarf was removed. The Generals, concerned, presented Erbakan with 18 directives, 10 of which concerned the defence of secularism. Then, in April, the military declared reactionary Islam to be more dangerous to Turkey than Kurdish secessionists, or even wars. Television stations, radio broadcasters, and newspapers considered sympathetic to the Islamists were shut down. Also read: Chinese J-20 isn't just a fighter jet—it's a signal to US, Japan and India European departure From 1999, the European Union sought to stabilise its eastern frontiers by drawing Turkey into the transnational body. The demands for civil liberties and freedoms that were now placed on Turkey's military gutted the institution. Led by Erdoğan, the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) or Justice and Development Party, was founded in 2001, bringing together a disparate coalition of Islamists. To the world, however, the AKP presented itself as a pro-West, reformist, moderate, and neoliberal party. Europe and the United States bought the story. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared that the AKP was 'a government dedicated to pulling Turkey westward toward Europe'. President Barack Obama gushed about 'a model partnership' with Turkey. Erdoğan has also used the same language about Trump. The practice of AKP power, however, proved to be at odds with this image. For one, as the party faced growing competition from its rivals, it made increasing use of religion. 'Those with greater commitments to liberal democratic norms carried greater weight at the outset, only to lose their power and influence to electoralists,' political scientist Sebnem Gumuscu wrote in her book, Democracy or Authoritarianism. The signs of Erdoğan's commitment to Islamism became increasingly evident. The new school curriculum introduced in 2017 led to the removal of the theory of evolution and increased emphasis on religious values. The word 'jihad' was included as an essential part of Islam. And then, a year short of the centennial of the founding of the republic, he opened the Hagia Sofiya church for Islamic prayers, reversing Atatürk's decision to turn it into a museum, equally shared between the country's faiths. Erdoğan's beliefs are increasingly evident beyond Turkey's borders, too. The new regime in Syria has embraced Sharia as the basis of its laws, just as Erdoğan seeks in his homeland. He has also been accused of complicity in the killings of religious minorities. The rioting over the LeMan cartoon signals the rise of Turkey, diminished by its obsession with greatness, but a prisoner of resentment and hatred. This smaller, meaner Turkey, of the blasphemy rioter and sectarian killer, will be Erdoğan's legacy. Praveen Swami is Contributing Editor at ThePrint. His X handle is @praveenswami. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Salman Rushdie to Mira Nair: Where these 9 Indian-origin global media and literary icons studied
Indian-origin writers, poets, and media personalities have left an indelible mark on global storytelling — from reshaping modern fiction to redefining how marginalized voices are heard. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What's often overlooked is how their academic journeys helped shape their perspectives, sharpen their language, and fuel their global influence. Here are 9 Indian-origin literary and media icons — and the schools and universities that helped launch them into the world stage. Salman Rushdie A towering figure in global literature, Salman Rushdie is known for blending magical realism with deep political and historical themes. Notable works: Midnight's Children , The Satanic Verses Education: School: Rugby School, UK Rugby School, UK University: King's College, University of Cambridge – BA in History Rushdie's classical British education combined with his South Asian roots created the perfect storm for his postcolonial and magical realist fiction. His time at Cambridge exposed him to historical frameworks that would shape the narrative structure of Midnight's Children . Jhumpa Lahiri Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has redefined diaspora fiction with her elegant, introspective storytelling. Notable works: Interpreter of Maladies , The Namesake Education: Undergrad: Barnard College, Columbia University – BA in English Literature Barnard College, Columbia University – BA in English Literature Graduate: Boston University – MA, MFA, and PhD in English and Comparative Literature Lahiri's deep academic grounding in English literature, followed by formal creative writing training, allowed her to develop her precise style — one that powerfully explores diaspora identity. Arundhati Roy Arundhati Roy is both a celebrated novelist and a fearless activist, using her voice to challenge injustice through fiction and non-fiction alike. Notable works: The God of Small Things , The Ministry of Utmost Happiness Education: Schooling: Corpus Christi School, Delhi Corpus Christi School, Delhi College: Delhi School of Architecture Roy's background in architecture taught her how to structure space and story — evident in her complex, multi-layered narrative style. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her formal training gave her an artistic eye and an activist's soul, both of which define her work. Amitav Ghosh A global literary figure, Amitav Ghosh is known for weaving history, politics, and ecology into sprawling, ambitious novels. Notable works: The Ibis Trilogy , The Shadow Lines Education: Undergrad: St. Stephen's College, Delhi – History St. Stephen's College, Delhi – History Postgrad: Delhi School of Economics – MA Delhi School of Economics – MA PhD: Oxford University – Social Anthropology Ghosh's work is deeply informed by his academic journey across history and anthropology. His novels are meticulously researched, and his educational foundation allows him to write richly about colonialism, trade, and climate. Kiran Desai The daughter of celebrated author Anita Desai, Kiran made her own mark in the literary world with a Booker Prize-winning novel at just 35. Notable works: The Inheritance of Loss Education: Undergrad: Bennington College, USA Bennington College, USA MFA: Columbia University – Creative Writing Desai studied creative writing at some of the top literary programs in the U.S., developing a quiet, nuanced voice that explores displacement, immigration, and postcolonial identity. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni A poet, novelist, and academic, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is known for blending mythology and feminism into stories that resonate globally. Notable works: The Palace of Illusions , The Mistress of Spices Education: Undergrad: University of Calcutta University of Calcutta Postgrad: Wright State University (MA), University of California, Berkeley (PhD in English) Divakaruni's fusion of mythology and feminist storytelling is backed by decades of literary education. Her writing bridges East and West, offering Indian narratives to a global audience with poetic precision. Mira Nair An award-winning filmmaker, Mira Nair has brought Indian stories to international audiences with emotional depth and social commentary. Notable works: Monsoon Wedding , The Namesake Education : Undergrad: University of Delhi – Sociology University of Delhi – Sociology Graduate: Harvard University – Visual and Environmental Studies Though primarily known as a filmmaker, Nair's roots are in storytelling and social analysis. Her studies at Harvard helped her merge documentary realism with cinematic narrative — a style seen in her adaptations of literary works. Fareed Zakaria Fareed Zakaria is a globally recognized political commentator and journalist, known for his intelligent, balanced analysis of world affairs. Notable works: The Post-American World , In Defense of a Liberal Education Education: Undergrad: Yale University – BA in History Yale University – BA in History Graduate: Harvard University – PhD in Government Born in Mumbai, Zakaria pursued history at Yale, where he was editor of the Yale Political Monthly and a member of the prestigious Scroll and Key society. He later earned a PhD in government from Harvard under the mentorship of Samuel P. Huntington. His elite academic training in political theory and international relations laid the foundation for his globally respected journalism. Meera Syal An accomplished writer, actress, and comedian, Meera Syal's work explores the British-Asian experience with humour, empathy, and sharp social insight. Notable works: Anita and Me , Goodness Gracious Me (TV) Education: University: University of Manchester – English and Drama With a degree in both literature and performance, Syal blends comedy, cultural commentary, and emotional depth in her work. Her education helped her develop a unique voice in both literature and screenwriting that resonates with diasporic audiences. Education played a powerful role in shaping the worldviews and voices of these literary and media icons. Whether through literature, screenwriting, poetry, or journalism, their words continue to travel across cultures — reflecting their roots and reimagining the future.
The Age
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
All cisterns go!
'Further to Andrew Brown's memory of Dr Poo (C8), I distinctly recall an episode when the doctor and his sidekick Dana discovered Bob Dylan trapped in a box,' says David Corry of Como West. 'A muffled voice from inside the box yelled out, 'There must be some kind of way out of here', to which the doctor replied, 'don't worry Bob, any day now, any way now, you shall be released'.' Interesting that Anne Kirman should mention Burra, South Australia (C8) as Janice Creenaune of Austinmer was recently there, having visited the Painted Desert and travelling the Oodnadatta Track. 'Burra, as one of the 'Little Cornwalls' of South Australia, is a small town with a big Cornish heart. The dugouts indeed provided shelter, (Chris Minns wishes it was so 'easy') with whitewashed walls and homely trinkets, it was just like 'home'. The engine houses from the copper mines are standing firm and strong. Poldark would be so proud.' Phil Haberland of Claremont (WA) is in no rush to die: 'Is it now safe to dust off our copies of The Satanic Verses and put them fearlessly back on our bookshelves, front and centre?' 'All this helping critters across roads (C8) is just soft,' reckons Brisbane tough guy John Elder. 'On our honeymoon in Crete many years ago, a taxi was taking Alison and me from Heraklion to Plakias. In the pitch-black night on the mountain road, the driver suddenly swerved his old Mercedes and then braked. He got out and then put something in the boot beside our cases. Seeing our wide eyes, he just smiled and said 'fresh mountain hare, delicious', and on we drove. I kid you not.' There's something a little too killjoyesque about George Zivkovic of Northmead's lateral thinking: 'Who can forget watching Gilligan's Island on TV, pushing aside logic due to its fictional nature and plot inconsistencies? The show depicts the S.S. Minnow, a small charter boat, being caught in a storm during a 'three-hour tour' and ending up on a deserted island hundreds of miles away. However, the boat, a 1964 Wheeler Playmate, had a top speed of about 12 knots. This means it couldn't have travelled more than 42 miles in three hours.'
