Just finished reading Shalimar the clown and can’t say it had the same effect as Midnight’s Children or Moor’s Last Sigh. Although the language and style is steeped in Salman Rushdie’s innate sense of humour and word play, this novel lacks the Rushdie punch. Nevertheless, it can’t be dismissed as a failure.
Shalimar the Clown brings to fore many interesting aspects of Rushdie’s obsession with India and particularly Kashmir. His un-severed umbilical cord still keeps him tied with India’s issues. Terrorism in the Kashmir valley is a sensitive topic for every Indian and Rushdie has delicately excavated the fictional history of terrorism. India Ophuls’ journey dwells on the suppression of personal demons and disturbed childhood. And in this process it opens up the Pandora’s box of her father’s past, her biological mother’s betrayal and her step-mother’s treachery. It also traces the path of Shalimar the clown from a yokel to a terrorist. It is interesting to note how Shalimar’s faith and loyalty towards his terrorist outfit is dictated by his personal vendetta. Terror after all has a human face and in this case it is Shalimar’s.
The novel unearths various layers of Kashmiri history through personal stories. Each character can be seen as a symbol and beholder of a secret which is lost to the present times.
As in all Rushdie novels, the stream of consciousness narration and attention to details leads the reader to admire the intermingling of personal and worldly, the micro with the macro. Each character’s life is a micro version of the general degradation of life in the Kashmir valley. Interesting also is the use of names. Whilst the Kashmiri characters have specific local names with deep-rooted meanings, the central figure has a changing name. To the world she is India and to her mother she is Kashmira. It is India Ophuls’ journey of discovering Kashmira Noman.
Rushdie novels require concentration and patience and Shalimar the clown is no exception. To fathom the depth of the title read the novel end to end. Climax may come as a surprise but it is in the true Rushdie spirit.