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• December 26, 2024
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If you are preparing for the UGC-NET/JRF English Literature exam, you must have come across Salman Rushdie’s most controversial novel, The Satanic Verses. If you have attended any of the online UGC-NET classes or offline classes, Prof. Vineet Pandey must have definitely mentioned the term “controversial” while referring to this book of Salman Rushdie. However, the age-old debates regarding the content of the novel have resurfaced again. Recently, in a news article published by the Hindustan Times, the novel got featured again. The article also stated that some Muslim organizations condemned the resumption of sales of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses in India and wanted the Centre to ban the controversial novel again. Some of the “respected” members from these organizations said that “religious sentiments cannot be hurt under the garb of right to freedom of expression granted by the Constitution.” 

The General Secretary of the All-India-Shia Personal Law Board stated that the novel mocks Islamic values and beliefs and insults Prophet Mohammad and his companions. Some of them also called it a “hate book”. What do you think about this? Do you agree? Now, you will understand the true value of literary criticism. The art itself is a part of the artist, and vice-versa. Let’s first dissect the artist, Salman Rushdie. 

Who is Salman Rushdie?

Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British-American writer whose allegorical novels examine historical and philosophical issues by means of surreal characters, brooding humour, and an effusive and melodramatic prose style. Because of his treatment of sensitive religious and political subjects, particularly in his novel The Satanic Verses (1988), Rushdie has been the target of death threats and violent attacks and a central figure in debates about free speech and censorship. His father was a Muslim businessman from India. So, his upbringing and education might have made him a bold, unfiltered writer. There are fewer clues about his childhood. However, his mother was a teacher and he was fond of writing since he was young. His works majorly challenge conventional narratives. Therefore, The Satanic Verses could have raised questions on popular Islamic culture which is why it is still considered controversial. Salman Rushdie is known for his unique blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and postcolonial themes, which has earned him critical acclaim and a wide readership. Salman Rushdie’s most famous novel is “Midnight’s Children,” which won the Booker Prize in 1981 and the Booker of Bookers in 1993.

Integration of Art, Artist, Religion, and Politics 

To create an art, one needs to be brave enough! Because art is not just mere reflection but it is an action in itself. Do you also feel the same? The relationship between creation and creator is such that overburdening fusion horizons of intersectionality might get blurred without warning. The craft of writing is an endeavour where truths are layered and hidden. Therefore, such unveiled truths are often mocked by conventions that are getting straddled anyway. After 36 years, The Satanic Verses returned to India. However, the return also marks a political angle which is again less explored. The right-wing “nationalists” might want to play a two-sided game. One who rules, lays the rules stands true in its own might in the global political scenario. If they ban the book again “under-pressure,” they might win Muslim votes again. If they do not ban it, they will gain “sympathy votes” from Hindus. What a game! However, let’s just concentrate on why it was banned in the first place. 

he primary reasons for the ban are as follows:

1. Blasphemy Allegations

• The novel reimagines portions of Islamic history, including a fictionalized account of the Prophet Muhammad, referred to as “Mahound” in the book. This portrayal was seen as offensive and sacrilegious by many Muslims.
• Specific passages were interpreted as mocking sacred beliefs, including references to the Quran, Islamic rituals, and revered figures.

2. Character and Story Elements

• The title itself, The Satanic Verses, refers to a controversial and disputed Islamic tradition (not widely accepted in mainstream Islamic theology) about verses that were supposedly removed from the Quran because they were inspired by Satan rather than by God.
• Characters and events in the book were interpreted by critics as thinly veiled parodies of Islamic figures and stories.

3. Public Protests and Outrage

• The book’s publication led to widespread protests from Muslim groups worldwide, accusing Rushdie of promoting Islamophobia and disrespecting their religion.
• In India, where the Muslim population is significant, concerns were raised about communal harmony, prompting the government to act swiftly by banning the book under the pretext of maintaining public order.

4. Ayatollah Khomeini’s Fatwa

• In 1989, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death, escalating the controversy to an international level. This further fuelled the backlash and prompted additional bans in several countries.

5. Legal Grounds for the Ban

• In India, the book was banned under Section 95 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows the government to restrict publications deemed offensive to any religious community, thereby maintaining public peace.

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The ban reflects the tensions between freedom of expression and religious sensitivities. While many view The Satanic Verses as a work of fiction exploring themes of migration, identity, and belief, the backlash underscores the profound impact of literature on religious and cultural sensibilities.

This is how literature and politics go hand-in-hand. The art might be termed as fallacy because it always carries something which might be reproducible. However, the power governs what we might be forced to think and write. What do you think? 

Anyway, writing on such controversial topics is not easy-breezy. It requires curiosity that bridges what remains under the fold. That’s art too! We hope you loved reading this literary political blog on The Satanic Verses.

If you want to receive more such information, follow Sahitya Classes! Furthermore, if you want to join the best UGC NET coaching in Delhi, feel free to reach out to us. If you want to prepare for the UGC-NET English or any other competitive exam with English Literature as your core subject, you can join Sahitya Classes. At Sahitya Classes, every aspect of the NET exam syllabus for English literature is covered. You will also receive UGC NET notes for English literature along with exclusive UGC-NET online classes. Our new batch will start on January 15, 2025 onwards. If you want to prepare for the UGC-NET English, you can also take our best UGC-NET crash course. In this crash course, you will get PYQs, test series, rapid-fire quiz sessions, mock-tests, live classes, and UGC NET English notes pdf.

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