The name’Salman’ is in news again! For a change it isn’t the bare-chested dude pulverizing the homeless under his wheels. It’s the recepient of the’Knighthood of [the non-existent] British Empire’ - Sir Salman Rushdie - author of the much controversial’Satanic Verses’, and other psuedo-intellectual leather-bound volumes [ books] that are read, mostly, by the’Wah Wah kyaa angrezi pekha hain’(beautiful usage of Queens language) crowd.
If a book were good, it would sell of its own merit. A controvery is needed to sell convoluted claptrap. Rushdie bit more than he could chew with his’Satanic Verses’ by trageting the prophet of Islam and his wives. Muslims were right to feel enraged by the attack on what they hold sacred.
That however doesn’t justify the Fatwas and death threats Rushdie had received(and still receiving) from some quarters of the Ummah. That, despite Rushdie apologising and offering explanations. No one deserves to die for expressing his thoughts and ideas. The author being a non-Muslim(except by accident of birth) evidently doesn’t share the same idea as the Momeen(faithful).
Nobodys forcing others to buy the book and read. There’s no such Fatwas to that effect! If someones outraged and feels that the book slights there religion - they are Free NOT to read it. If someone does feel the need to respond, they can pen a counter-book [ infact some have]. Healthy debate is the sign of a mature people. Further, it would help to remember Rushdies book is a work of fiction and just that. He has never claimed it to be historical or something.
I don’t think many who protest and issue deaththreats have infact read it. Much of it [opposition] is fanned by hearsay. Isn’t it a travesty of justice to condemn a person, without verifying if his work really merits it or not?
And last but not the least, what value does an obscurantist and outdated title like KBE hold in todays world? First of all where’s the British Empire? Why’s rest of the World fussed up over what happens in some tiny remote islands that haven’t got over their hangover? And for crying out loud, the accusation of KBE award to Rushdie as a Crusader attack on Islam - OUTRAGEOUS!
If the damsels are in distress, Knights in shining armors save them? And if the kinghts are in trouble?