Salman RushdieSalman Rushdie

Presentation by Eva Carroll

INTL 3111 – Politics & Culture in Literature

Salman Rushdie was born in 1947 to a Salman Rushdie was born in 1947 to a Muslim family in Bombay (Mumbai) IndiaMuslim family in Bombay (Mumbai) India

At age 14, he was sent to boarding At age 14, he was sent to boarding school in Englandschool in England

Youth, Education & Early Youth, Education & Early CareerCareer

After boarding school, Rushdie After boarding school, Rushdie studied history at King’s College in studied history at King’s College in Cambridge.Cambridge.

Afterwards, he worked in advertizing Afterwards, he worked in advertizing while writing his first novel.while writing his first novel.

Grimus Grimus was published in 1975, but was published in 1975, but was not widely readwas not widely read

It was in 1981 that It was in 1981 that Rushdie’s second Rushdie’s second novel, novel, Midnight’s Midnight’s Children Children that won that won him international him international fame.fame.

The book is a The book is a historical fiction historical fiction about the partition about the partition of India, written in of India, written in magical realism.magical realism.

InfluencesInfluences Rushdie was born the same year of the Rushdie was born the same year of the

British partitioning of British Indian Empire British partitioning of British Indian Empire into what is now India and Pakistan. into what is now India and Pakistan.

While he was in boarding school, his family While he was in boarding school, his family emigrated to Pakistan along with millions emigrated to Pakistan along with millions of other Muslims as violence between of other Muslims as violence between Muslims and Hindus rose. Muslims and Hindus rose.

His experience of emigrating, as well as His experience of emigrating, as well as the history and politics surrounding his the history and politics surrounding his family’s history caused him to question family’s history caused him to question “everything about identity and selfhood “everything about identity and selfhood and culture and belief.”and culture and belief.”

His first few books were his way of dealing His first few books were his way of dealing with these questions and the two very with these questions and the two very different worlds he came from – India and different worlds he came from – India and Britain, East and West.Britain, East and West.

His story His story Imaginary HomelandsImaginary Homelands is another is another prime example of this wrestling.prime example of this wrestling.

Rushdie’s quest brought him to Rushdie’s quest brought him to the great the great question:question:

““of of how the world joins uphow the world joins up——not only how the East flows into the West not only how the East flows into the West and the West into the East but how the and the West into the East but how the past shapes the present even as the past shapes the present even as the present changes our understanding of the present changes our understanding of the past, and how the imagined world, the past, and how the imagined world, the location of dreams, art, invention, and, location of dreams, art, invention, and, yes, faith, sometimes leaks across the yes, faith, sometimes leaks across the frontier separating it from the ‘real’ place frontier separating it from the ‘real’ place in which human beings mistakenly believe in which human beings mistakenly believe they live.”they live.”

The Satanic VersesThe Satanic Verses

Out of this question was born his Out of this question was born his novel, novel, The Satanic Verses The Satanic Verses (1988)(1988)..

The book and some of its characters was The book and some of its characters was inspired in part by the life of Mohammed.inspired in part by the life of Mohammed.

The Satanic Verses refer to a group of The Satanic Verses refer to a group of verses in the Quran which allegedly verses in the Quran which allegedly Mohammed claimed to be given to him by Mohammed claimed to be given to him by the Angel Gabriel, but which he later the Angel Gabriel, but which he later recanted as having been deceived by the recanted as having been deceived by the devil.devil.

One of the main themes of the book is One of the main themes of the book is doubt regarding revelation, religious faith, doubt regarding revelation, religious faith, and fanaticism. and fanaticism.

Rushdie claims it was one of it his most Rushdie claims it was one of it his most personal works, and the least politically personal works, and the least politically motivated.motivated.

However, many Muslims took offense at However, many Muslims took offense at his allusions to Mohammed, and staged his allusions to Mohammed, and staged protests in countries all over the world.protests in countries all over the world.

The Ayatollah Khomeini of The Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a Iran issued a fatwa, fatwa, or death or death sentence, over Rushdie.sentence, over Rushdie.

Rushdie spent the next 10 Rushdie spent the next 10

years in hiding until the years in hiding until the fatwafatwa

was lifted. was lifted.

The The Rushdie Rushdie

AffairAffair

The Rushdie AffairThe Rushdie Affair as it came to be known as it came to be known was a major international event.was a major international event.

A number of people died either in protests A number of people died either in protests or executions (including his publisher who or executions (including his publisher who was stabbed to death).was stabbed to death).

The book was banned in many countries; at The book was banned in many countries; at the same time it held the the same time it held the NY Times NY Times #1 Best #1 Best Seller spot for weeks as many bought the Seller spot for weeks as many bought the book to show their support of free speech.book to show their support of free speech.

Rushdie still does not think the accusations Rushdie still does not think the accusations of offensive material were true, and stands of offensive material were true, and stands by his book as one of his finest artistic by his book as one of his finest artistic works.works.

Rushdie was knighted by Queen Rushdie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for his Elizabeth II in 2007 for his contribution to literature.contribution to literature.

He now lives in the US and teaches He now lives in the US and teaches at Emory University in Georgia.at Emory University in Georgia.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19600879600879

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/120917fa_fact_rushdie?currentPage=all120917fa_fact_rushdie?currentPage=all

http://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/salman-rushhttp://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/salman-rushdie/die/

http://www.gradesaver.com/author/salman-rushdihttp://www.gradesaver.com/author/salman-rushdiee//