Censorship in India: Unfunny gags
Waiting for Salman
EVEN a magical realist would struggle with the unlikely tale that unfolded this week at the Jaipur literary festival. Salman Rushdie, an author whom Islamists revile, stayed away, warned by police that two assassins had been dispatched by a Mumbai mafioso to prowl among the literati and murder him.When it turned out that the police story was more inventive than most novels, Mr Rushdie offered to speak by video link. Yet the plug was pulled on that, amid talk of baying mobs of Muslims. When it turned out that the police story was more inventive than most novels, Mr Rushdie offered to speak by video link. Yet the plug was pulled on that, amid talk of baying mobs of Muslims. In protest, four writers read out extracts from his book “The Satanic Verses”, which is banned in India. The festival organisers, having sought legal advice, warned the writers that they might be investigated or charged. Legal process in India can be capricious and interminable and the four writers felt sufficiently threatened to quit the festival in a hurry. In the cold light of day,...
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Written by The Economist: Asia on January 26th, 2012 with
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