‘This is no way for a free society to behave’: Salman Rushdie wrote to Rajiv Gandhi after ban on ‘The Satanic Verses’

Ever because it got here out in 1988, Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses has been one of the crucial controversial books on the planet. After Muslims from throughout the globe started making a hue and cry concerning the guide, alleging that it mocked their religion, varied nationwide governments, together with the Indian authorities underneath Rajiv Gandhi, banned the import and sale of the work.

On studying concerning the Indian authorities’s determination, the writer shot off a strongly-worded letter to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The New York Times revealed a model of the letter on October 19, 1988, Section A, Page 27 of the National version with the headline: ‘India Bans a Book For Its Own Good.’

In the letter, Rushdie expressed his exasperation over the federal government’s transfer to ban the guide “after representations by two or three Muslim politicians, including Syed Shahabuddin and Khurshid Alam Khan, both members of Parliament.”

He additional went on to say, “These persons, whom I do not hesitate to call extremists, even fundamentalists, have attacked me and my novel while stating that they had no need actually to read it. That the Government should have given in to such figures is profoundly disturbing.”

Mentioning that an official assertion defined that The Satanic Verses had been banned as a pre-emptive measure as sure passages had been recognized as inclined to distortion and misuse, he acknowledged: “This really is astounding. It is as though, having identified an innocent person as a likely target for assault by muggers or rapists, you were to put that person in jail for protection. This is no way, Mr. Gandhi, for a free society to behave.”

“Clearly, your government is feeling a little ashamed of itself and, sir, it has much to be ashamed about. It is not for nothing that just about every leading Indian newspaper and magazine has deplored the ban as, for example, ”a Philistine determination” (The Hindu) or ”thought management” (Indian Express),” he added.

He additionally identified that many individuals all over the world would discover it unusual that it’s the finance ministry that obtained to determine what Indian readers might or might not learn. Rushdie additional took a swipe on the ministry by quoting from information company PTI’s report – “the ban did not detract from the literary and artistic merit of Rushdie’s work,” by responding: “Thanks for the good review.”

He additional asserted that the correct to freedom of expression is on the basis of any democratic society, “and at present, all over the world, Indian democracy is becoming something of a laughing stock.”

In the letter, he additionally tried to offer explanations for a number of parts within the guide that went on to kick up an argument.

“The section of the book in question (and let’s remember that the book isn’t actually about Islam, but about migration, metamorphosis, divided selves, love, death, London and Bombay) deals with a prophet – who is not called Mohammed – living in a highly fantastical city made of sand (it dissolves when water falls upon it). He is surrounded by fictional followers, one of whom happens to bear my own first name. Moreover, this entire sequence happens in a dream, the fictional dream of a fictional character, an Indian movie star, and one who is losing his mind, at that. How much further from history could one get?” he requested.

Rushdie additionally slammed the federal government saying, “From where I sit, Mr. Gandhi, it looks very much as if your Government has become unable or unwilling to resist pressure from more or less any extremist religious grouping; that, in short, it’s the fundamentalists who now control the political agenda.”

“I deeply resent my book being used as a political football; what should matter to you more than my resentment is that you come out of this looking not only Philistine and anti-democratic but opportunistic,” the writer added.

He ended the letter by stating: “Your action in the matter of ”The Satanic Verses” will probably be an vital indicator for many individuals all over the world. If you verify the ban, I’m afraid I, and plenty of others, must assume the worst. If, alternatively, it is best to admit your authorities’s error and transfer swiftly to right it, I would be the first to applaud your honorable deed.”