Renewed demand for ‘Satanic Verses’
Rushdie controversy increases book sale
While the uncertainty over Salman Rushdie’s participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival continues, the controversy has generated a renewed interest in his banned book Satanic Verses.
Some people have made a good business out of the controversy. Some enterprising people have downloaded the web edition of the book and then sold it to inquisitive buyers. The photocopies of the book are exchanging hands at prices ranging from Rs 250-350 and are most sought after. Curiosity has blossomed among young minds about why the book has become a raging controversy in India.
The 547 paged book published by Viking was banned in India in 1988 after a section of Muslims objected to it, terming it blasphemous.
The book had also led to a fatwa against Rushdie from Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini in February 1989.
One youth said, “Thankfully the technology has come to the rescue of the people who no longer prisoners to the myopic view of the governments. How can the government and a minuscule section of the people dictate the thinking of the people?” The police claim that they are unaware of the sale of the book in any form.
“We have received no complaints or information from any quarter about the circulation of the book” said an official.
Meanwhile the Rajasthan governments’ stand that Rushdie’s participation in the festival will vitiate law and order in the state, has come under sharp criticism from human rights activists and intellectuals.
