Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses Sold In India After 36 years

For the first time in 36 years, Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses is selling in India, sparking debates on artistic freedom and religious sensitivities.

on Dec 30, 2024

For the first time in 36 years, Salman Rushdie's controversial novel The Satanic Verses is selling in India, the country of his birth. Bahrisons Booksellers has the book available in New Delhi, an important juncture in Indian publishing history.

Legal Developments
The novel's re-emergence comes after the Delhi High Court passed a judgment raising questions about the validity of its long-standing ban citing lack of official government notification. Although importing the book remains banned, publishing it in the country is not, thus opening up its sale avenues. Indian lawyers are confused over the case as it lacks clear precedents.

Historical Background
Published in 1988, The Satanic Verses ignited global controversy for its depiction of an episode inspired by the life of Prophet Muhammad. The book's release called forth widespread protests, rioting in India, and a ban by the Indian government. Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie, forcing him into hiding. Violence went hand in hand with acts of murder, such as that of the book's Japanese translator and a deadly arson attack in Turkey.

He was attacked last year in 2022 himself in a public event in New York. He lost one of his eyes. This year, he published a memoir titled Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder reflecting on the experience.

Reception in Local Place
Bahrisons Booksellers published on social media that the book is available and selling well. Manasi Subramaniam, who is the Editor-in-Chief at Penguin Random House India, said this good news by quoting from the book: "Language is courage: the ability to conceive a thought, to speak it, and by doing so to make it true."
But there is criticism against the selling of the book by the Islamic groups who have published declarations against the release of the book.

A Resilient Legacy
Rushdie, born in India and now living in New York, has become a symbol of resilience in the face of threats to freedom of expression. As The Satanic Verses returns to Indian bookstores, it reignites debates over the balance between artistic liberty and religious sensitivities.