Salman Rushdie is a renowned author, born on June 19, 1947, in Bombay, India. His birth name is Ahmed Salman Rushdie. Rushdie’s father, Anis Ahmed Rushdie, was a businessman, and his mother, Negin Rushdie, was a teacher.
Early Life and Education
Rushdie moved to England to attend Rugby School, where he experienced racist taunts and bullying from his classmates. He later attended King’s College, University of Cambridge, and graduated in 1968. Before becoming a full-time writer, Rushdie worked intermittently as an advertising copywriter in London.
Writing Career and Controversy
Rushdie’s 1988 book, ‘The Satanic Verses,’ sparked controversy and outrage in Muslim-majority countries due to perceived blasphemy. Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict, in 1989, calling for Rushdie’s murder. The author went into hiding with the assistance of British police and limited his public appearances for over a decade.
In 2022, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times onstage before his scheduled lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. The accused, Hadi Matar, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Rushdie suffered severe injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye and a incapacitated hand.
Recent Developments
Rushdie has since spoken out about the attack and the importance of freedom of expression. In 2023, he published his first book since the attack, ‘Victory City,’ and gave his first television interview since the stabbing. In 2025, Rushdie testified in court against Matar, showing a jury his blinded right eye. Matar was found guilty of attempted murder and assault and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
