| Paakhe |
Posted
on 19-Jul-02 11:46 AM
How Salman Rushdie is different?
One of the reviewers of 'The Satanic Verses' says (not the actual words only the paraphrasing), it is the landscape of imagination blended with range of metaphors he uses makes him so different. In another's view, he is different because he has mastered every possible use of english language with creativity.
Everyone must have heard about 'The Satanic Verses'. I am sure they have. Ayotollah Khomeni made him so popular with still live fatwa that instead of diminishing the interest in the book, it raised the curiosity. I, for example, otherwise wouldn't have bothered to take the initiative to read this huge book if it was not due to the fatwa. There many like me who read this book only because it generated so much controversy.
Hardliners in Shiv Sena also tried to generate similar controversy in regard to Mr Rushdie's 'The Moor's Last Sigh'. That became storm in the ice cup. Thought it didn't generate much controversy, I finished it along with 'The Midnight's Children'. I became so obsessed with Salman Rushdie that I even bought his newest novel 'Ground Beneath her feet' paying more than 400 rupees, almost 10% of my salary at that time! Anticlimax is: I didn't finish that one. Only reason I can ascribe to that is because I bought it. Same happened with 'Shame', not the one by Taslima Nasarin, also. Due to my such recidivistic habit to not do finish a book I bought, I restrained myself from buying 'The Satanic Verses'. I think I will finish this. I brought this from one of the nearby public libraries.
I heard a lot about its profanity regarding Islam, its complete disregard for Islamic sacrosanct prophet Mohammad, and what else. Till now I have finished first 25 pages and I haven't found any such thing. Of course there is still a lot to go. But what I am finiding in these first 25 pages is same humour, satires, depiction of Indian subcontinental landscape and life, nothing more nothing less.
Oh yes! one thing about author's surname: looks like he is actually Rushing to Die by writing such controversial novels :).
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