Salman Rushdie did not want to be the apostle for freedom of expression. He just wanted to tell stories
The HinduWhat you were is forever who you are. — Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children When literary festival organisers in India baulked at inviting Salman Rushdie, I, like many advocates of freedom of expression, would react with righteous indignation. Writers, artists and filmmakers across the globe should be inspired by his example, and perhaps Indian writers, artists and filmmakers most of all”Ramachandra GuhaHistorian and author Putting all these well-worn debates aside, it is a reminder that just as Midnight’s Children put literature from the subcontinent on the world literary map, The Satanic Verses put freedom of expression on the cultural map for many of us. Free speech is life itself.” These are fighting words but all around the world, it’s increasingly clear that freedom of expression is not something electorates care about deeply even if Rushdie’s books have shot up the Amazon charts. It shows that for the political class, he’s still “an issue, a bother, ‘an affair’.” However, just because it’s not a vote getter does not mean freedom of expression is unimportant.
History of this topic
Salman Rushdie say attempts to censor Ian Fleming’s James Bond are ‘almost comical’
The Independent
The senseless attack on Salman Rushdie forces us to confront our values
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Still fighting for free speech: Salman Rushdie turns 75
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