Salman Rushdie: Spurned at Home, Decorated Abroad

The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and hence the Union and Rajasthan (Jaipur is the capital) governments are liable to protect both Sir Rushdie’s life and his right to hold opinions. Experts say that by law, the government could declare the fatwa illegal and vouch for providing all possible security to Sir Rushdie. However, it has not happened so at the time of writing.

Deoband alone cannot claim to represent the 160-million strong Indian Muslim community. Hence  many  in the media are saying that issuance of  fatwa against Mr. Rushdie  smacks of petty politics –the seminary has timed its proclamation to perfection considering that political parties across the spectrum is expected to come out in its support since the organisation can influence Muslim votes in UP. For example, in 2007, Mr. Rushdie had attended the same Jaipur fest without a hitch.  Then, there were no fatwas issued and no security situation arose there either.

India prides itself on being the biggest democracy in the world, yet it bars Salman Rushdie from participating in a literary festival. Similarly, M.F. Hussain, was forced to live and die in exile because some hardliner groups found his paintings objectionable. Recently, an essay on 100 Ramayanas was banned from academic curriculum at universities. The essay presented the Indian epic in a view divergent from the beliefs of its masses. India has also had censorship issues with Facebook and the Internet where the Indian State has reportedly asked social networking sites and search engines to remove “objectionable content.”

In a vibrant democracy, that India claims it is, such censorship stifles freedom of expression and instead sets a bad precedent that only breeds more intolerance. Hardliner groups become more vociferous when their demands – however unjust – are readily met. Therefore, India should rise above petty politics and uphold the sanctity of the very Constitution it swears by. Celebrating literature and its famous authors will be in true spirit of democracy only then.

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