Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie

8/19/2019 Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie

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BIOGRAPHYSir Ahmed Salman Rushdie was born June 19, 1947 in Bomba !now"umbai#, India$ %he onl son o& a weal'h Indian businessman and as(hool 'ea(her, Rushdie was edu(a'ed a' a Bomba )ri*a'e s(hool be&orea''endin+ %he Ru+b S(hool, a boardin+ s(hool in arwi(-shire, .n+land$He wen' on 'o a''end /in+0s olle+e a' 'he 2ni*ersi' o& ambrid+e,

where he s'udied his'or$A&'er earnin+ his "$A$ &rom ambrid+e, Rushdie brie&l li*ed wi'h his&amil in Pa-is'an, where his )aren's had mo*ed in 1934$ %here, he &oundwor- as a 'ele*ision wri'er bu' soon re'urned 'o .n+land, where &or mu(ho& 'he 197s he wor-ed as a (o)wri'er &or an ad*er'isin+ a+en($

hile Rushdie would la'er be(ome a 'ar+e' o& "uslim e5'remis's, 'hereli+ion was *er mu(h a )ar' o& his u)brin+in+$ His +rand&a'her, a -ind

man and &amil do('or, was a de*ou' "uslim, who said his )raers &i*e'imes a da and wen' 'o Ha66 'o "e((a$

Bu' his +rand&a'her0s embra(e o& 'he reli+ion was no' shrouded inin'oleran(e, some'hin+ 'ha' +rea'l sha)ed 'he oun+ Rushdie$

You (ould si' 'here as an 118 or 18ear8old bo and sa, 0Grand&a'her, Idon0' belie*e in +od$0 And he would sa, 0Reall: %ha'0s *er in'eres'in+$ Si'down here and 'ell me all abou' i'$0 And 'here would be no -ind o&a''em)' 'o ram some'hin+ down our 'hroa' or (ri'i(i;e ou$ %here would6us' be (on*ersa'ion$


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Salman Rushdie 19?7< %he Ja+uar Smile< A

@i(ara+uan Journe> 199< Haroun and 'he Sea o&S'ories

• 1980: Midnight's Children • 19?< Shame• 19?9< %he Sa'ani( erses 1989, Feb. "fatwa"• 1991< Imaginary Hmelands• 199!: ast, #est • 199=< %he "oor0s Cas' Si+h• 1999< %he Ground Benea'h her Dee'


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RushdieEs Posi'ion as

an Immi+ran' ri'er• $hird%#rld Csm&litans li-e Fere- al(o'',

Gabriel Gar(ia "arues and Bhara'i "u-her6ee,

$ S$ @ai)aul and "i(hael Ondaa'6e, and 北島 $• %he lie in r write t a metr&litan (enter,

(arrin+ wi'h 'hem a )third%wrld,* rm+lti(+lt+ral, ba(gr+nd$

•

$he (m&le-ity f their &sitins:1. nabling, )$he m&ire #rites a(.*

/. wward. Is Rushdie a "'British-residentIndo-Pakistani writer'? Who do they write to?

What do they write about?


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Rushdie


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O'her "e'a)hors orFes(ri)'ions o&

Immi+ran' ri'ers• Po''ed )lan' !@eil Bissoonda'h#• Immi+ra'ion is a one8wa road> 'here is no

home 'o re'urn 'o$ !S'uar' Hall#

關鍵詞

北島

我的影

子很危險

這受雇

於太陽的藝

人帶來最

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1 人 2

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Salman Rushdie<

"a6or %hemes• IndiaPa-is'anEs @a'ional Iden'i' *s$ Bri'ish

(oloni;a'ion Indian dias)ora

• His de&ini'ion o& migrant identity and thethemes f Indian dias&ra in )ImaginaryHmelands*

•

His use o& .n+lish lan+ua+e$• olonialism and GenderPower S'ru++le• General In'rodu('ion 'o "idni+h'Es hildren


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Ima+inar Homelands

• 1$ The past is a foreign country, so is the present.

• $ "emor


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Ima+inar

Homelands• 1$ The past is a foreign country, so is the

present.

• $ "emor


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Ima+inar

Homelands$ Abou' Midnight2s Children and India

– 1# Saleem, an unreliable narra'or> –

# India, i's non8se('arian )hiloso)h, – # Indian 'alen' &or non8s'o) sel&8re+enera'ion$

• 4$ #hite (+lt+re< 1# %he use o& .n+lish )$ 17 < 'o (onuer.n+lish ma be 'o (om)le'e 'he )ro(ess o& ma-in+ oursel*es&ree$

• =$ )ritish Indian identity.* < &. 19 1# As bo'h insidersand ou'siders, 'he )resen' al'erna'i*e reali', min+lin+reali' and na'uralism$

# A+ains' +he''o men'ali' > 'he ha*e 'wo 'radi'ions$


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• .*en be&ore %he &atanic 'erses !19??# a))eared and be(amean in'erna'ional e)isodeMwi'h rio's and boo-8burnin+s in Grea'

Bri'ain, India, and Pa-is'an> bomb 'hrea's and bombin+s a'boo-s'ores and RushdieEs )ublisherEs o&&i(es in .n+land andAmeri(a> a dea'h sen'en(e and a boun' o& N=$ million )la(edon RushdieEs head b IranEs Aa'ollah /homeini> and 'he au'hordri*en under+round, +uarded a' an undis(losed lo(a'ion b 'heS)e(ial Bran(h o& S(o'land YardMSalman Rushdie had alreades'ablished himsel& as one o& 'he mos' im)or'an' wri'ers in(on'em)orar Bri'ain$


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• His se(ond no*el, (idnight)s *hildren !19?1#, was awarded 'he)res'i+ious Boo-er8"(onnell Pri;e> his 'hird, &hame !19?#,was also hi+hl )raised$ %hrou+hou' 'he 19?Es, Rushdie also

wro'e essas, elouen'l and o&'en< abou' 'he )oli'i(s o&reli+ion and ra(e in "ar+are' %ha'(herEs Bri'ain, IndiraGandhiEs India, and "ohammad ia8ul8HaEs Pa-is'an> abou'wri'ers and boo-s &rom India and Pa-is'an, A&ri(a, Bri'ain,.uro)e, Sou'h Ameri(a, and 'he 2ni'ed S'a'es> abou' 'he*o(a'ion o& 'he wri'er and 'he )owers o& li'era'ure, 'he)o'en'ial o& 'he ima+ina'ion and 'he dan+ers o& (ensorshi)>and, re)ea'edl, abou' mi+ra'ion as 'he ar(he')al e5)erien(eo& 'he 'wen'ie'h (en'ur$


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Midnight's hi!dren is a 19?1boo- b Salman Rushdie 'ha' deals wi'hIndia0s 'ransi'ion &rom Bri'ish

(olonialism 'o inde)enden(e and'he )ar'i'ion o& Bri'ish India$ I' is(onsidered an e5am)le o& )os'(olonialli'era'ure and ma+i(al realism$ %he s'or is'old b i's (hie& )ro'a+onis', Saleem Sinai,and is se' in 'he (on'e5' o& a('ual his'ori(ale*en's as wi'h his'ori(al &i('ion$

ha#e is Salman Rushdie0s 'hird no*el,)ublished in 19?$ Ci-e mos' o& Rushdie0swor-, 'his boo- was wri''en in 'he s'le

o& ma+i( realism$ I' )or'ras 'he li*eso& ul&i-ar Ali Bhu''o !Is-ander Hara))a#and General "uhammad ia8ul8Ha !General Ra;a Hder# and 'heirrela'ionshi)$ %he (en'ral 'heme o& 'heno*el is 'ha' *iolen(e is born ou' o& shame$%he (on(e)'s o& 0shame0 and 0shamelessness0are e5)lored 'hrou+h all o& 'he (hara('ers,

wi'h main &o(us on Su&ia inobia andOmar /ham$


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Imaginary +omelands brin+s mos' o& 'hese essas 'o+e'her wi'h'he se*eral ma6or s'a'emen's Rushdie has wri''en in 'he wa-eo& %he &atanic 'erses (on'ro*ers 'o &orm wha' amoun's 'o ane5'raordinar in'elle('ual au'obio+ra)h$

Born in Bomba, Rushdie was sen' 'o be edu(a'ed in .n+land a'&our'een and made 'ha' (oun'r his home$ Al'hou+h his )aren'swere members o& 'he "uslim minori' in India, nei'her 'he norhe was reli+ious$ A' &i&'een, he re)or's in In God e %rus', helos' his &ai'h and &ound himsel& drawn 'owards 'he +rea''radi'ions o& se(ular radi(alismMin )oli'i(s, so(ialism> in 'he ar's,modernism and i's o&&s)rin+$ He a''ended Ru+b, where hee5)erien(ed Bri'ish ra(ism a' &irs' hand, and ambrid+e, wherehe dis(o*ered 'he wri'ers who sha)ed his own as)ira'ions, and

'hen s)en' se*eral ears as an ad*er'isin+ (o)wri'er$


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%he &atanic 'erses

The atanic $erses is Salman Rushdie0s &our'hno*el, &irs' )ublished in 19?? and ins)ired in

)ar' b 'he li&e o& "uhammad$ As wi'h his)re*ious boo-s, Rushdie used ma+i(alrealism and relied on (on'em)orar e*en'sand )eo)le 'o (rea'e his (hara('ers$ %he 'i'lere&ers 'o 'he sa'ani( *erses, a +rou)o& Qurani( *erses 'ha' allow in'er(essor)raers 'o be made 'o 'hree Pa+an "e((an+oddesses< All', 2;;a, and "an'$ %he )ar'o& 'he s'or 'ha' deals wi'h 'he sa'ani(*erses was based on a((oun's &rom 'hehis'orians al8aidi and al8%abari$


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• Graduall, 'he e5)erien(e 'ha' he would ma-e his ownM'hee5)erien(e 'ha' had made himM)ressed i'sel& u)on him as an

ine*i'able sub6e('$ "i+ra'ionMlosin+ oneEs (oun'r, lan+ua+e,and (ul'ure and &indin+ onesel& &or(ed 'o (ome 'o 'erms wi'hano'her )la(e, ano'her wa o& s)ea-in+ and 'hin-in+, ano'her*iew o& reali'Mis Salman RushdieEs +rea' 'heme>me'amor)hosis is i's me'a)hor, and re&le('ions on mi+ra'ion

and me'amor)hosis )ermea'e 'hese essas as 'horou+hl asembodimen's o& 'hem )o)ula'e his no*els$


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• ri'ers in m )osi'ion, e5iles or emi+ran's or e5)a'ria'es,Rushdie sas in 'his (olle('ionEs 'i'le essa, are haun'ed bsome sense o& loss, some ur+e 'o re(laim, 'o loo- ba(-, e*ena' 'he ris- o& bein+ mu'a'ed in'o )illars o& sal'$ Su(h a wri'er(omes 'o unders'and, howe*er, 'ha' we will no' be (a)able o&

re(laimin+ )re(isel 'he 'hin+ 'ha' was los'> 'ha' we will, inshor', (rea'e &i('ions, no' a('ual (i'ies or *illa+es, bu' in*isibleones, ima+inar homelands, Indias o& 'he mind$ In his own&i('ions, Salman Rushdie has (rea'ed 6us' su(h ima+inarhomelands< an India o& 'he mind in (idnight)s *hildren, a

Pa-is'an o& 'he mind in&hame, an Islam, Bomba, and Condono& 'he mind in %he &atanic 'erses$ hile 'he are no' )re(iselreal, 'hese ima+inar homelands (a)'ure 'he essen(e o& reali'as seen 'hrou+h 'he ees o& (hara('ers who, li-e 'heir au'hor,&a(e 'he (hallen+e o& s'raddlin+ 'wo (ul'ures$


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• %he word 'ransla'ion, he )oin's ou', (omes &rom 'he Ca'in&or bearin+ a(ross, and ha*in+ been borne a(ross 'he

world, we are 'ransla'ed men$ I' is normall su))osed 'ha'some'hin+ alwas +e's los' in 'he 'ransla'ion> I (lin+,obs'ina'el, 'o 'he no'ion 'ha' some'hin+ (an also be +ained$As he wri'es in an essa on John Ber+er, 'he mi+ran' is no'sim)l 'rans&ormed b his a('> he also 'rans&orms his new

world$ As Rushdie has am)l demons'ra'ed in his own wri'in+,'he +ains &rom 'his 'rans&orma'ion are real and man$


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• One su(h +ain is a 'remendous )o'en'ial &or rein*i+ora'in+bo'h 'he lan+ua+e and 'he &orm o& 'he no*el$ RushdieEs wor-s

o*er&low wi'h a mlan+e o& *oi(es, ima+es, and in*en'ions


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• Fes(ri)'ion is i'sel& a )oli'i(al a(' $ $ $ Redes(ribin+ a world is

'he ne(essar &irs' s'e) 'owards (han+in+ i', Rushdie wri'es,and 'his su++es's ano'her (on'ribu'ion 'ha' 'he mi+ran' (anma-e 'o world (ul'ure$ B des(ribin+ 'he world as he does inhis &i('ion and non&i('ion, Rushdie (an hel) 'o (han+e 'hoseas)e('s o& so(ie' 'ha' he so o&'en lamen's and )ro'es'sa+ains' in 'hese essas< 'he ins'i'u'ional ra(ism and nos'al+ia

&or )as' +lories$


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Imaginary Hmelands

• He said 'ha' in 'hese essas he was wri'in+abou' wha' i'Es li-e 'o wri'e abou' 'he )la(es

ouE*e le&'$• %he )ar' 'ha' we read in (lass deal' wi'h him

'al-in+ abou' +rowin+ u) in India and mo*in+awa$

• He 'al-s abou' (omin+ home &or 'he &irs''ime in ears and loo-in+ in 'he )hone boo-and his &a'hers name and number s'ill bein+

in 'here$


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Imaginary Hmelands

• You see him 'al-in+ abou' usin+ hisima+ina'ion and bi's o& 'ru'h 'o rebuild hisIndia$

• He 'al-s abou' how he 'hin-s ba(- abou' 'hewa 'hin+s used 'o be li-e a mirror$

• And )u''in+ all 'he shards o& 'he mirror'o+e'her and addin+ s'u&& 'o 'he mirror whenhe (ouldnE' &ind 'ha' shard$


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Imaginary Hmelands

3+tes• I' ma be ar+ued 'ha' 'he )as' is a (oun'r

&rom whi(h we ha*e all emi+ra'ed, 'ha' i's

loss is )ar' o& our (ommon humani'$• Some'imes we &eel we s'raddle 'wo

(ul'ures> a' o'her 'imes, 'ha' we &allbe'ween 'wo s'ools$

• human bein+s do no' )er(ei*e 'hin+s whole>we are no' +ods bu' wounded (rea'ures,(ra(-ed lenses, (a)able onl o& &ra('ured

)er(e)'ions


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%he sub'i'le o& Ima+inar Homelands 88 .ssas and ri'i(ism19?181991 88 is )erha)s 'oo +rand a 'erm &or 'his assembla+eo& Salman Rushdie0s seminar )a)ers, 'ele*ision broad(as's,

boo- re*iews, mo*ie re*iews, )ubli( le('ures, in'er*iews andar'i(les$ ould i' ha*e been )ublished now 88 and in i's)resen' &orm 88 were i' no' &or 'he hi+h and 'errible drama o&'he au'hor0s re(en' li&e: Probabl no', +i*en 'he s(ra)) ando((asional na'ure o& a (onsiderable )ar' o& i's (on'en'$ S'ill,

enou+h s'ron+ )ie(es are in(luded 'o ma-e 'he boo- wel(ome'o anone who has +ra))led 88 in deli+h' or e5as)era'ion orbo'h 88 wi'h "r$ Rushdie0s 'umul'uous no*els or who shares hisin'eres' in 'he )oli'i(al and (ul'ural )li+h' o& 'he mi+ran'$


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In his *iew, 'he mi+ran' 88 whe'her &rom one (oun'r 'oano'her, &rom one lan+ua+e or (ul'ure 'o ano'her or e*en&rom a 'radi'ional rural so(ie' 'o a modern me'ro)olis 88 is,

)erha)s, 'he (en'ral or de&inin+ &i+ure o& 'he 'wen'ie'h(en'ur$ On 'he (om)le5 si'ua'ion o& 'his emblema'i( &i+ure,"r$ Rushdie himsel& (an o& (ourse s)ea- wi'h uniueau'hori', &or he has embodied 'he ou'sider, 'he O'her, allo& his li&e< &irs' as a "uslim in )redominan'l Hindu India,

'hen as an Indian mi+ran' 'o Pa-is'an, ne5' as an Indian8Pa-is'ani li*in+ in Bri'ain and, sin(e 'he )ubli(a'ion o& %heSa'ani( erses, as a blas)hemer a+ains' Islam, a man inhidin+, mar-ed &or murder$


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"r$ Rushdie does no' )ull his )un(hes when i' (omes 'o 'he &ailin+s o& hisado)'ed land !and b e5'ension es'ern .uro)e and 'he 2ni'ed S'a'es# in'he ma''er o& ra(ial )re6udi(e$ ri'in+ &rom 'he )osi'ion o& 'he Bri'ishle&', in a 19?4 essa wi'h 'he neo8Orwellian 'i'le Ou'side 'he hale, "r$Rushdie *oi(es his s(orn &or 'he (urren' nos'al+ia &or 'he em)ire and 'hera6 as e5em)li&ied in wha' he (alls 'he bla(-&a(e mins'rel8show o& 0%heDar Pa*ilions0 in i's % serial in(arna'ion and 'he o*er)raised Jewel in'he rown> nor has he mu(h +ood 'o sa abou' Ri(hard A''enborou+h0sGandhi or Fa*id Cean0s &ilm o& A Passa+e 'o India$ He wri'es 'ha' 'here

(an be li''le doub' 'ha' in Bri'ain 'oda 'he re&urbishmen' o& 'he.m)ire0s 'arnished ima+e is under wa$ %he (on'inuin+ de(line, 'he+rowin+ )o*er' and 'he meanness o& s)iri' o& mu(h o& %ha'(heri'eBri'ain en(oura+es man Bri'ons 'o 'urn 'heir ees nos'al+i(all 'o 'helos' hour o& 'heir )re(eden(e$ %he re(rudes(en(e o& im)erialis' ideolo+and 'he )o)ulari' o& Ra6 &i('ions )u' one in mind o& 'he )han'om

'wi'(hin+s o& an am)u'a'ed limb$


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In a )ie(e (alled Home Dron' !19?4#, "r$ Rushdie anal;es ra(ism in'erms o& 'he &ear o& 'he )rimal Far- and 'he idea o& 'he O'her, 'he

re*ersed 'win in 'he loo-in+8+lass, 'he double, 'he ne+a'i*e ima+e,who b his o))osi'eness 'ells one wha' one is 88 onl 'o (on(lude'ha' i' will no' su&&i(e 'o blame ra(ism and 'he (rea'ion o& lin+ima+es o& bla(- )eo)les on some dee)8bubblin+, uni*ersal &ailin+ inhumani'$ @or will i' do 'o e5(use ra(ial )re6udi(e on 'he +rounds o&

i's uni*ersali'$ hile i' is ob*iousl 'rue 'ha' bla(-s and Asians need'o &a(e u) 'o and deal wi'h our own )re6udi(es, i' seems euall(lear 'ha' 'he mos' a''en'ion mus' be )aid 'o 'he mos' serious)roblem, and in Bri'ain, 'ha' is whi'e ra(ism$ I& we were s)ea-in+ o&India or A&ri(a, we would ha*e o'her &orms o& ra(ism 'o &i+h' a+ains'$Bu' ou &i+h' hardes' where ou li*e< on 'he home &ron'$


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%urnin+ 'o 'he li'erar &ron', we &ind "r$ Rushdie a''ribu'in+ his ea+erness 'o brea-wi'h 'radi'ional li'erar &orms in )ar' 'o his s'a'us as a mi+ran'> denied his roo's,his ori+inal lan+ua+e and 'he so(ial norms he +rew u) wi'h, 'he mi+ran' is obli+ed'o &ind new was o& des(ribin+ himsel&, new was o& bein+ human$ "r$ Rushdie is

mos' )ersuasi*e when wri'in+ abou' 'hose no*elis's whose a))roa(h 'o &i('ion issimilar 'o his own< wri'ers li-e Gun'er Grass, Gabriel Gar(ia "arue; and I'aloal*ino, who mi5 &an'as and na'uralism, who em)lo all o& 'he radi(alldis6un('i*e 'e(hniues o& modernism and )os'8modernism 'o (rea'e &i('ionalworlds o& 'heir own 'ha' are none'heless lin-ed in a 'housand was 'o 'he world aswe e5)erien(e i'$ In his essa on "r$ Grass !hal& a mi+ran'#, he s)ea-s o& boo-s'ha' +i*e as)irin+ wri'ers !'hese would8be mi+ran's &rom 'he orld 'o 'he Boo-#'he )ermission 'o be(ome 'he sor' o& wri'ers 'he ha*e i' in 'hemsel*es 'o be$ Aboo- is a -ind o& )ass)or'$ Dor 'he au'hor o& "idni+h'0s hildren, 'he )ass)or'sin(luded %he Dilm Sense b Ser+ei .isens'ein, 'he row )oems o& %ed Hu+hes,Jor+e Cuis Bor+es0s Di((iones, Cauren(e S'erne0s %ris'ram Shand, .u+eneIones(o0s )la Rhino(eros and "r$ Grass0s no*el %he %in Frum$ %his is wha'Grass0s +rea' no*el said 'o me in i's drumbea's< Go &or bro-e$ Alwas 'r and do

'oo mu(h$ Fis)ense wi'h sa&e' ne's$ %a-e a dee) brea'h be&ore ou be+in 'al-in+$Aim &or 'he s'ars$ /ee) +rinnin+$ Be blood8minded$ Ar+ue wi'h 'he world$


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%he wri'in+ 'hrou+hou' is a''ra('i*e< li*el, allusi*e, a li''le&li))an'$ Bu' one (ould wish 'ha' Ima+inar Homelands had

no' been ui'e so in(lusi*e$ ha' is 'he )oin' o& re)rin'in+ a19? (am)ai+n dia'ribe a+ains' "ar+are' %ha'(her !AGeneral .le('ion#: %he a((oun' o& a 'wo8wee- 'ri) 'oPi''sbur+h, @ew Yor- and San Dran(is(o in 19?= !%ra*elsi'h a Golden Ass# seems bo'h +lib and da'ed as i' re*i*es

on(e a+ain 'ha' hoar old (om)arison o& 'he &ollies andhorrors o& Ameri(an li&e 'o 'hose o& Rome in i's de(aden(e$%he re*iews o& wor-s b .$ C$ Fo('orow, Ri(hard Dord, SaulBellow and Gra(e Pale are hardl more 'han brie&a))re(ia'ions$


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ha'e*er wea-nesses 'he (olle('ion (on'ains

are more 'han redeemed b 'he elouen(e and)a'hos o& 'he 'hree (on(ludin+ )ie(es,)ublished in 199$ %hese deal dire('l wi'h "r$Rushdie0s res)onse 'o 'he &ana'i(al !and o&'en

)oli'i(all mo'i*a'ed# rea('ion 'o %he Sa'ani(erses in )ar's o& 'he "uslim world$


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In 'he &irs' )ie(e !In Good Dai'h#, he a+ain )ro(laims hisalle+ian(e 'o 'hose no*els 'ha' a''em)' radi(al re&ormula'ions o&

lan+ua+e, &orm and ideas and his de'ermina'ion 'o (rea'e ali'erar lan+ua+e and li'erar &orms in whi(h 'he e5)erien(e o&&ormerl (oloni;ed, s'ill8disad*an'a+ed )eo)les mi+h' &ind &ulle5)ression$ He de&ends his own no*el as bein+, in )ar', a se(ularman0s re(-onin+ wi'h 'he reli+ious s)iri' and +oes on 'o sa< Iam no' a "uslim$ I' &eels bi;arre, and wholl ina))ro)ria'e, 'o bedes(ribed as some sor' o& here'i( a&'er ha*in+ li*ed m li&e as ase(ular, )luralis', e(le('i( man$ $ $ $ %he man "uslims I res)e('would be horri&ied b 'he idea 'ha' 'he belon+ 'o 'heir &ai'h)urel b *ir'ue o& bir'h, and 'ha' an )erson so born who &reel(hose no' 'o be a "uslim (ould 'here&ore be )u' 'o dea'h$


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In 'he se(ond !Is @o'hin+ Sa(red:#, "r$ Rushdie,

wi'hou' re)udia'in+ his se(ularism, a(-nowled+es 'he)o'en( o& 'he sa(red and 'he human earnin+ &or'rans(enden(e$ He )ro)oses 'ha' ar' 88 )ar'i(ularlli'era'ure 88 (an be 'he 'hird )rin(i)le 'ha' media'es

be'ween 'he ma'erial and s)iri'ual worlds, 'ha' i' (ano&&er us some'hin+ 'ha' mi+h' e*en be (alled a se(ularde&ini'ion o& 'rans(enden(e$


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I' is 'he *er elouen(e o& 'he reasonin+ in 'he'wo )re(edin+ essas 'ha' ma-es his s'a'emen'o& submission in 'he &inal )ie(e, h I Ha*e

.mbra(ed Islam, seem so des)era'el sad$


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Salman Rushdie los' his reli+ious &ai'h a' 'he a+e o& &i&'een$ %he e*en' 'oo-)la(e in a Ca'in (lass a' Ru+b and he la'er (elebra'ed i' b ea'in+ a s'aleham sandwi(h$ He has himsel& s)o-en o& how he a''em)'ed 'o &ill 'he T+od8

sha)ed holeE le&' b his loss o& &ai'h wi'h 'he ar' o& 'he no*el$ Bu' 'o read'his (olle('ion o& se*en'8&i*e essas and re*iews, (ulled &rom RushdieEswri'in+ o*er 'he )as' 'en ears, is 'o be reminded 'ha' 'here is ano'hers)iri'ual home in whi(h he has alwas seemed (om&or'able K 'he broad(hur(h o& Bri'ish so(ialism$ He is (er'ainl no' a&raid 'o measure himsel&u) a+ains' some o& 'he 'rul )ro)he'i( &i+ures on 'he Bri'ish le&' and, in

'he (ase o& Orwell a' leas', 'o &ind 'hem wan'in+$ One o& 'he 'hin+s heshares wi'h Orwell, wi'h .$ P$ %hom)son and wi'h his &riend and admirer"i(hael Doo', is a &ine moral ra+e, a ra+e whi(h e5)resses +enuine idealismand a resolu'e re&usal 'o (oun'enan(e 'he e5'in('ion o& so(ial ho)e or 'osubmi' 'o 'he )oli'i(s o& mone or ma'erialism$


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ons'ru('i*e moral ra+e su(h as 'his is so rare 'ha' i'ma well (all &or'h admira'ion e*en &rom 'hose who dono' share RushdieEs )oli'i(al ideals, and 'here is a non8(on&ormis' s'ren+'h in man o& his more )olemi(al)ie(es whi(h is bo'h a''ra('i*e and *i'al$ %his ises)e(iall 'rue when he (ombines his )oli'i(al

ar+umen's wi'h a''em)'s 'o re-indle 'he old &lame o&his lo*e &or India and 'o e5)ress his an+er a' 'he &alsesui'ors who are alwas see-in+ 'o woo her awa$


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%he 'erms o& his a''a(- on wha' he (alls T'he Ra6re*isionismE o& "$ "$ /ae and Paul S(o'' in his essaTOu'side 'he haleE are as in'eres'in+ as 'hereser*a'ions abou' Orwell he e5)resses in 'he same)ie(e$ His 6ud+men's on Ri(hardA''enborou+hEs !handi and on $ S$ @ai)aul seem bo'h

se*ere and 6us'$ His re*iew o& oucault)s -endulum, inwhi(h he s)lendidl de(lines 'o worshi) a' 'he modishshrine o& 2mber'o .(o, is a small +em and man o'her)ie(es in 'his boo- meri' bo'h readin+ and re8readin+$


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%he moral ra+e, 'hen, is +enuine$ So 'oo is 'heidealism$ %he are bo'h in 'heir own wa im)ressi*e

and on a number o& o((asions 'he hi' 'heir 'ar+e's$%he )roblem is 'ha' moral ra+e and idealism are ahi+hl des'ru('i*e (ombina'ion, and unless 'he are+uided b real insi+h' and b a +rea' deal o& ordinar

human sensi'i*i' 'he (an o&'en end b hi''in+ 'hewron+ 'ar+e's K wi'h disas'rous (onseuen(es$


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One indi(a'ion 'ha' 'here is some'hin+ wron+ wi'h RushdieEs aimis )ro*ided b 'he 'e5' o& his (elebra'ed K or no'orious K hannel4 broad(as' on ra(ism$ A )ar'i(ular se('ion o& his 'al- dis'urbed

me when I &irs' heard i' in 19? and i' dis'urbs me s'ill<

In German, a&'er 'he &all o& Hi'ler, heroi( a''em)'s were madeb man )eo)le 'o )uri& German 'hou+h' and 'he Germanlan+ua+e o& 'he )ollu'ion o& @a;ism U Bu' Bri'ish 'hou+h',Bri'ish so(ie' has ne*er been (leansed o& 'he &il'h o&im)erialism$ I'Es s'ill 'here, breedin+ li(e and *ermin, wai'in+&or uns(ru)ulous )eo)le 'o e5)loi' i' &or 'heir own ends$


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Rushdie seems no' 'o ha*e re(o+nised 'ha' 'he rhe'ori( o& )ollu'ion and 'he ima+eso& li(e and *ermin whi(h he uses here were )ar' o& 'he *er subs'an(e o& @a'ionalSo(ialis' )ro)a+anda$ ha' su(h lan+ua+e )er&e('l e5)resses is 'he e5'reme

ra(ialis'Es assum)'ion 'ha' he is himsel& an island o& )uri' and 'ha' all (orru)'ion,(ruel' and un(leanness reside ou'side him in an alien )eo)le whi(h mus' be(leansed &rom 'he &a(e o& 'he ear'h$ Ins'ead o& see-in+ 'o analse 'his sel&8ri+h'eous and re)ressi*e &rame o& mind Rushdie (omes )erilousl (lose 'o ado)'in+i' himsel&$ %he resul' is a -ind o& ra(ialism8in8re*erse in whi(h he s)ea-s ou' as 'hemember o& a (lass o& wron+ed and all8*ir'uous *i('ims a+ains' 'he enem K 'he(orru)', all8sin&ul whi'es$

Bri'ish ra(ism, o& (ourse, is no' our )roblem$ I'Es ours$ e sim)l su&&er &rom 'hee&&e('s o& our )roblem$ And un'il ou, 'he whi'es, see 'ha' 'he issue is no'in'e+ra'ion, or harmon, or mul'i8(ul'uralism, bu' sim)l &a(in+ u) 'o anderadi(a'in+ 'he )re6udi(es wi'hin almos' all o& ou, 'he (i'i;ens o& our new andlas' .m)ire will be obli+ed 'o s'ru++le a+ains' ou$


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ha' we en(oun'er in RushdieEs broad(as' is no' 'he rhe'ori( o&libera'ion$ I' is 'he rhe'ori( o& mas'er bein+ )ressed in'o ser*i(e onbehal& o& 'he o))ressed$ So lon+ as Rushdie s)o-e on behal& o& 'he)owerless a+ains' 'he )ower&ul, 'his rhe'ori( seemed 6us' and humane'o man$ %ra+i(all, howe*er, when his own so)his'i(a'ed insensi'i*i' 'o'he lan+ua+e o& &ai'h brou+h' him in'o (on&li(' wi'h "uslims who, a''heir mos' e5'reme, were 'hemsel*es ri+id and e*en ra(ialis' in 'heirres)onse, he rea('ed b usin+ similar rhe'ori($ Ins'ead o& re(o+nisin+

'ha' "uslim e5'remism, li-e whi'e ra(ialism, is 'he rea('ion o& )eo)lewho 'hemsel*es &eel o))ressed, *ulnerable and wounded, and 'ha'modera'e "uslims were dee)l o&&ended 'oo, he made 'he mis'a-e o&'rea'in+ all 'hose who o))osed 'he no*el as 'hou+h 'he were )ar' o& ademoni( hos'$ As a resul' a 'ra+ed whi(h mi+h' ha*e been de&used ini's earl s'a+es was ine5orabl dee)ened$


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%he ar'i(le in whi(h Rushdie (ame (loses' 'o demoni;in+ "uslimo))onen's o& his no*el a))eared in 'he /bserver on Januar 19?9 6us'a&'er 'he boo-8burnin+ in Brad&ord$ In i' Rushdie des(ribed "uslim(am)ai+ners as T'he &or(es o& inhumani'E and (hara('eri;ed 'hem asa+en's o& dar-ness$ In'eres'in+l, 'he ar'i(le has been silen'l omi''ed&rom 'his (olle('ion$ I& 'his omission is delibera'e i' is di&&i(ul' 'o -nowui'e how 'o res)ond$ Should we wel(ome i' as a si+n o& 'he wisdom andma'uri' o& Rushdie 'he (on*er': Or should we dis(ern a (ase o& Rushdie8

re*isionism:

" own )re&eren(e is &or 'he &ormer$ On 'he e*iden(e o& 'his (olle('ion,howe*er, in whi(h essas li-e TIn Good Dai'hE and TIs @o'hin+ Sa(redE arere)rin'ed, bu' in whi(h Rushdie o&&ers no new, more (onsidered analsiso& 'he 'ra+ed, i' would seem )ruden' 'o reser*e 6ud+men'$


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Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie

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