In a significant development, Salman Rushdie's controversial novel The Satanic Verses has quietly made its way back to Indian bookstores, 36 years after being banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988.
A limited stock of the novel, long deemed blasphemous by various Muslim organizations globally, is now available at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR. The bookstore confirmed that the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It has been a few days since we got the book, and the sale has been good,” said Rajni Malhotra, owner of Bahrisons Booksellers. The book is priced at ₹1,999 and is exclusively available at Bahrisons outlets across the region.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the bookstore announced the availability of the novel:
“@SalmanRushdie's The Satanic Verses is now in stock at Bahrisons Booksellers! This groundbreaking & provocative novel has captivated readers for decades with its imaginative storytelling and bold themes. It has also been at the centre of intense global controversy since its release, sparking debates on free expression, faith, & art.”
Legal Developments and Reactions
The book’s re-entry into the Indian market follows a Delhi High Court ruling in November, which closed proceedings on a petition challenging the original ban. The court noted that government authorities failed to provide the official notification enforcing the ban, leading to the presumption that it no longer exists.
“In the light of the aforesaid circumstances, we have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists,” the court stated.
A History of Controversy
Published in 1988, The Satanic Verses sparked global outrage among some Muslim communities for its alleged blasphemous content. Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini famously issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie's death, forcing the author into hiding for nearly a decade.
The controversy escalated further with violent incidents, including the 1991 assassination of the novel’s Japanese translator, Hitoshi Igarashi. In August 2022, Rushdie himself was attacked and seriously injured during a lecture in New York, leaving him blind in one eye.
Reader Reactions: Price vs. Literary Value
Despite the book’s historic significance, reactions to its availability have been mixed, largely due to its high price.
“I would rather wait until an Indian print is available,” said Bala Sundaresan, a tech entrepreneur, adding that he was drawn to the book primarily due to its controversy rather than its literary value.
For Delhi University student Jayesh Verma, the price makes sense only for collectors or ardent fans. “Those who wanted to read it because of the controversy have likely already downloaded it. Paying ₹2,000 is for die-hard fans or collectors,” he said.
Others, however, see the novel as an essential addition to India’s literary discourse. Literature student Rashmi Chatterjee remarked, “This book is more than a piece of fiction; it’s an argument against censorship and a landmark in India’s literary history.”
While The Satanic Verses may remain divisive, its return to Indian shelves marks a pivotal moment for free expression and literary freedom in the country.
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