

Salman Rushdie: Touchstones with Razia Iqbal
Aug 15, 2022
Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed author of works like 'Midnight's Children', shares his insights with BBC journalist Razia Iqbal. He reflects on cherished items like a silver ingot from his childhood and discusses the powerful influences of James Joyce and Bob Dylan on his writing. The conversation dives into the complexities of identity shaped by Indian history, the importance of open debate in today's political climate, and the evolution of contemporary fiction in response to societal changes. Rushdie's passion for literature and music shines throughout.
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The Silver Ingot
- Salman Rushdie's first gift, received at one day old, was a silver ingot engraved with pre-partition India's map.
- He cherishes this object as a link to his happy childhood and the unified India his parents envisioned.
Bombay vs. Mumbai
- Rushdie values the historical significance of names, preferring "Bombay" to "Mumbai" because the latter is a more recent, artificial construct.
- He sees "Bombay" as a name that reflects the city's colonial past and its creation by the British.
Secular India
- The ingot symbolizes the Nehruvian ideal of a secular India, a concept Rushdie embraced growing up.
- His parents, like many Indian Muslims, prioritized their Indian identity over their religious one, opting for the secular state.