'The Satanic Verses' is back on bookshelves, a look at the ban and its fallout
Public Lokpal
December 25, 2024
'The Satanic Verses' is back on bookshelves, a look at the ban and its fallout
New Delhi: Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses is back in Indian bookshelves after a gap of 36 years. The book, which significantly influenced both literary and political discourse, is now legally available, as the ban was lifted in 1988 by Rajiv Gandhi's administration amid growing protests and political pressure.
The ban appears to have been quietly lifted, as there is no formal document confirming its status. Without any official announcement, the book has reappeared, with copies now available in Delhi's renowned bookstores such as Bahrisons.
The initial controversy over The Satanic Verses was sparked by a review published in India Today, which contained excerpts that were deemed offensive to religious sentiments. Prominent activist and politician Syed Shahabuddin led protests, which turned into nationwide demonstrations and spread to Pakistan and other regions.
This unrest eventually led to Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issuing a fatwa against Rushdie in 1989. The international repercussions forced Rushdie into hiding for several years, while the book's ban became a controversial symbol of the struggle for free speech and the sensitivities surrounding religion. The lifting of the ban aligns with broader reflections of the politically charged environment of the late 1980s, marked by controversies such as the Shah Bano case, the opening of the locks of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and many other missteps under Rajiv Gandhi's leadership that changed India's socio-political landscape. With its new availability in India, The Satanic Verses is a testament to literary freedom and the ongoing challenges posed by censorship.
