Salman Rushdie is a British-Indian author and essayist best known for his novel blending magical realism with historical and political themes. He was born on June 19, 1947, in Mumbai, India. Rushdie’s most famous work, “Midnight’s Children,” won the Booker Prize in 1981 and is celebrated for its narrative style and exploration of post-colonial themes. His 1988 novel, “The Satanic Verses,” sparked significant controversy and led to a fatwa issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, calling for Rushdie’s assassination. This event forced him into hiding for several years, significantly impacting his life and work.
Rushdie has continued to write and publish notable works, including “The Ground Beneath Her Feet,” “Shalimar the Clown,” and “The Golden House.” He has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career and is an outspoken advocate for freedom of expression. In recent years, Rushdie survived a brutal stabbing attack in 2022 during a public lecture in New York, which brought renewed attention to issues of censorship and the threats faced by authors. Despite his challenges, he remains a prominent figure in literature and a powerful voice against intolerance.
Lazarus Carpenter - Author 