Salman Rushdie on no-platforming, magical realism and America in crisis

Acclaimed author Salman Rushdie talks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy thirty years on from the controversial publication of The Satanic Verses. He talks in part about his new book The Golden House, what the fake news phenomenon means for literature and why America has a cultural crisis.
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[@talbino7821]

Rewatching this after the horrible news the day before yesterday. A man with an incredible breadth of knowledge, who understands the role of a writer in these difficult times and is unafraid in his pursuit of answers to difficult questions. I've loved Salman's work and always will. Praying for his speedy recovery from this horrible incident and hope it doesn't shatter him internally.

[@sararichardson737]

More grist to the mill for a great writer. He’ll transcend it and create something of beauty from it.

[@saloninegi147]

I love listening to Salman Rushdie. Sending him warm wishes and sympathy as he continues to recover from that unspeakable crime.

[@SadatQuayiumApu]

When I was a kid growing up in a remote corner of this planet (Bangladesh), I heard people around me chanting slogans to have him beheaded. Now after all those years when i learn that a new book of Salman is going to be published soon, I just cant wait to get a copy. And once I have it I read slowly for I do not want the book to be finished quickly. Much Love and Respect from Bangladesh.

[@evelynbaron2004]

You are my friend

[@uzochiokeke4328]

its a shame that your country treated taslima nasreen with such disrespect

[@CyberUK]

Good man. Now we just need everyone to be as willing to engage / learn / discuss as you are. Best wishes for your future.

[@SadatQuayiumApu]

@@CyberUK All I have got now is HOPE ! Thanks for your kind words.

[@sarahlewandowicz7696]

Love from a likeminded reader, Wales

[@livingminimumwage6359]

Watching this, my heart is broken over the news. Stay strong and outlive these bastards, Rushdie. And come out of it loudly and speak out as you've always done. Fundamentalists of every breed can try all they want but they can't kill ideas and creativity.

[@michaelmayen6240]

Completely true

[@sararichardson737]

I’m holding my breath!

[@sararichardson737]

@The Street LogBookPC paranoia no doubt.

[@sohailnabi618]

He is the culprit who hurt the hearts of millions of muslims around the world.

[@sararichardson737]

@@sohailnabi618 don’t allow it. Ignore him.

[@thanomsacksoumpholphakdy7896]

My first book with Salman was ‘The S’ Verses,’ it got so much attention from the backlash. It was due to this that I picked it up. And I have never regretted it. He has faced so much yet he kept on giving and giving. And it was all great works that he has contributed to humanity. There are writers who are average, and then there are those who really contribute. He is a part of the later.

[@guangdali1762]

''It's really crucial in the novel not to be preachy not to say you know this is good or bad. [...] As a reader I don't like a book that wags a finger at me and tells me what to think.'' -Salman Rushdie If only Hollywood understood this xD

[@hacgarimman9660]

Along with your moderate grammar.

[@gregclark228]

Unbelievable what happened to this man in the last decades. More power to people like Rushdie who challenge these religions.

[@qadartalabadan1936]

And more power fools as well

[@artiesolomon3292]

I have a shelf of Salmon Rushdie books and I will not loan them out or give them away. great interview, thank you for letting the author do most of the talking.

[@grrobson1]

Say what you like about this guy,but you have to admit his writings are interesting and imagitive,

[@faiz106]

Well said

[@kyliereed200]

All the hate against him was instigated by religious preachers who caused a mass hysteria.

[@colegio2239]

He is a literary genius! I have since created a shelf for all of his books! What an exquisite writer who teaches us to think, entertains us and inspires us to find our own voice to tell our own personal narratives!

[@tayetrotman]

Sir Salman Rushdie is a hero, he stood up to the enemies of freedom of speech. Hopefully the people of Iran will one day be free of their despotic terrorist government.

[@matissbauskenieks222]

@Fester Smyth No, there is not! Just that simple.

[@azadrasheed497]

Abby Martin was prevented from addressing at an American University as she refused to condemn #BDS.The University demanded she sign ,Abby Martin to her credit refused.

[@SamvedIyer]

@Fester Smyth Blasphemy is an undesirable relic of the Dark Ages. May it be cast into a sempiternal inferno.

[@beback_]

The Islamic regime in Iran is extremely unpopular.

[@kyliereed200]

@Fester Smyth if God needs a blasphemy law to be protected is he really a God?

[@jorgeh71]

Cuando escuchas a Salman en este video te das cuenta que lo que pasa en un lugar pasa en todas partes. Los políticos quieren controlar lo que la gente piensa, crear su propia historia. Mis deseos de bienestar para este hombre que lucha contra los prejuicios, la libertad, y el extremismo. Way to go Salman!

[@Ded_Silu]

Hello, Jorge, in which country do you live?

[@spazaliciousbim]

Currently re-reading The Moor’s last sigh-just ecstasy pure beauty- 🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@ofrabjousday1]

I see now, why he was very good friends with Christopher Hitchens. so well-thought out. Very engaging. I'm glad to hear that he is recovering. The world still needs thinkers like this man. Oh, by the way, the "whole shelf of books" quote was actually from James Baldwin in the 50's. But Martin can use it, too.

[@suchasingh1278]

Hats off to Salman 👍

[@shubhamhissaria707]

The Satanic Verses is not offensive nor does it says that what's written is truth. The problem with this case is that there are a bunch who are offended by anything but are ashamed of nothing.

[@Richardwestwood-dp5wr]

I love to listen to him, he is immensely cultured and has that gift with language which makes of him a great conversationalist.

[@miket4355]

An icon and a powerhouse for freedom of speech. Extremely brave in the face of barbarism

[@simonjunior7404]

I'm a Christian born in the Middle East and fled the Islamic terror. God bless you Rushdi, you are one of the few brave geniuses in the world. 🙏

[@SohaibKhan1]

He seems like a nice guy

[@cherylmcwilliams455]

I enjoy listening to writers that can do so many different types of writing. Who enjoys such a wide variety of exposer in their life. They always produce great work like Mr. Rushdie.

[@senararcak4488]

This was a good interview in terms of the questions but how they progressed and included the novels and their critical discussion even if it was not that much or in too much detail.

[@Sarcastic_Satan_123]

If logical thinker had a name, it would be Salman Rushdie! So proud of you Sir.... Much respect for your bold & fearless attitude... Loads of Love from a Hindu Indian :)

[@bestbuy5400]

Can we please have Douglas Murray and Steven fry . Thanks

[@wonderingbrit4163]

I hope in the future we will look back and celebrate the defiance the likes of Rusdie showed against violent Islamist mobs

[@brummiali1998]

You people are the mobs not islam I'm an English women who now is Muslim

[@kapple654]

@@brummiali1998 they said 'islamist' not 'muslims'. he is clearly very defensive of ordinary muslims (he clearly thinks hindu nationalism is a bigger threat than extremism in Pakistan - 20:19)

[@chelseapoet3664]

Wow, the first book he mentions that he loves is also the first book I think of if asked about books I love, Alice in Wonderland.

[@vickramnadeson74]

Haroun and the sea of stories Changed my life Thank you Mr Rushdie Sir Melbourne Australia 2021

[@proudatheist2042]

How did Haroun and the Sea of Stories change your life? I finished reading it not too long ago.

[@MrMirville]

The Satanic Verses is a rather stylish, well-phrased but boring, pithless, superficial, mundane book that brings no real information or interesting hypotheses about the subject the title promises (the dubious verses of the Qur'an, which in Islam has always been a real problem), and which became a best-seller only because of the death fatwa laid upon it. The Iranian government should have prioritized more dangerous persons spiritually, like Ayn Rand who condemns charity, and really wicked and Satanic authors like Attali or Huntingdon who advocate mass murder of old people or world war against countries refusing the NWO : these people explicitly advocating crime as a way of social control should not be allowed to walk in safety throughout the world. Rushdie should not have been attacked but the reading of his works declared a frivolous activity not worthy the waste of time and effort like listening to lounge music or watching TV serials.

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

2 facts to factor in: 1: The Abrahamic invasions are doing, and have done, their maximum to destroy the culture they invaded. Therefore, give the Sanatan Dharma their full right to defend their culture. After all, Bharat has the ONLY ancient culture and civilization that still survives. 2: Trump is not that megalomaniac as to believe that fake news is only when it's against him. Although you are free to speak as you like, Mr. Rushdie, and I absolutely LOVE the Satanic Verses, plus you are my very favorite writer, but facts are facts. And good research is part of the jurisdiction of a good writer.

[@sergioropo3019]

I love to listen to this guy

[@shahinsimba4178]

really?

[@rahuldahoob4513]

@@shahinsimba4178 yes

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting.

[@shubhamhissaria707]

I have some Muslim friends from "bohra muslim" community whose ancestors where forcefully converted to Islam. They acknowledge this that their forefathers were humiliated, raped and converted at gunpoint but they are now are afraid to take any steps back because they fear in their community in which they live now could harm them and the 2 generations who have lived in fundamental islamist environment has lost their old identity. Salman Rushdie correctly said this has been happening in the east and now i am seeing the same happening in west as well. My friends just don't want to go back to their home.

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Which country are you in? And what is the bohra Muslim community?

[@roxee57]

He’s a lovely man.

[@mazharsoufi5270]

he is a very smart man i so much enjoyed listening to him, thank you

[@BlueMonk25]

Spot on regarding the various issues discussed. This is a balanced and rational discussion, which is sadly lacking these days. I really do hope people watch the entire discussion before leaving stupid and hateful comments.

[@TrishanthChandrahasan]

this guy is a great interviewer

[@DhruvKumar-uc2uj]

Books don’t changed the world. They change an individual.

[@raphaellavelasquez8144]

It isnt necessarily advancing age that makes people more willing to hear things they're uncomfortable with. He's assuming that people who are older have become more educated and more mature. Many do not.

[@ExiledGypsy]

The crisis is the loss of common grounds, the shift of right further and further since 1979 (Thatcher and Reagan) until the middle ground broke.

[@n5tv351]

Good point 🧠✅🙏

[@Humayunkabir-nn4rh]

There are a bunch who are offended by Anything, but never ashamed of anything!!!!

[@chrislloyd5415]

When he was aked the first book that made an impression on him I was thinking "well for me it was Alice in Wonderland!"

[@luukeluketer1024]

This bloke was on Curb............dang............

[@robbert6393]

26:58 Krishnan: I actually got a death threat... Salman: *casually* Oh congratulations.

[@thanomsacksoumpholphakdy7896]

Salman lived under house arrest basically for nearly a decade with a fatwa on his back. A threat from an entire demographic. 😊 I would never be able to begin to imagine what that would’ve been like.

[@robbert6393]

@@thanomsacksoumpholphakdy7896 not just on his back bro, the fatwa is on his fucking head!

[@haab1441]

A real shame that Dickens isn't alive. He would have sorted my grammer, and his honour. X

[@AnalyticalHarry]

Midnight children, feel it

[@sleepercell9926]

Love this guy. Awesome dude!

[@anikyt7570]

Science fiction - speculative fiction - speculative futuristic technological fiction - futuristic fiction : which is appropriate name for science fiction ?

[@shelleyscloud3651]

Loved The Golden House

[@gabriel82030]

Salman Rushdie is one of the greatest novelists of our times - no question about it. However, he seems to have no scope for African-Americans beacause he has always overlooked them in all his inteviews. Needless to say that there can't be any America without the natives and African-Americans. Salman can also sound like an anglo-saxon. In that case he should have the courage to admit the crimes of slavery and colonialism .

[@KB-uv7wj]

Krishna GM just proves how his inexperienced and shallow questioning can attract Rushdie’s spontaneous mature articulated response. Rushdie in the driving seat all the way.

[@sidchandran5057]

No one's competing here. You just seem like somebody who hates Krishna as if he destroyed your life or something. I don't think he or Rushdie care one bit. I don't know where you come from but grow up my friend. :)

[@fainitesbarley2245]

I have enjoyed all Krishna’s interviews because he correctly understands that we want to hear what the guest thinks about the issues of the day, rather than showcasing himself.

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Are you a fan?

[@kayam5059]

I AM LUCIFER AND I DID WRITE THE QUARAN. YOU WERE RIGHT. BUT ATHEISM IS A MENTAL ILLNESS. FIND YOUR FAITH YOUNG BROTHER GOD LOVES FIGHTERS LIKE YOU. THAT IS WHY YOU ARE STILL ALIVE SMILE BE HAPPY ALL OF ISLAM IS WITH YOU EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON - LOVE LUCIFER

[@sulekhatvs7751]

Hats off to sree Salman Rushdie.

[@michaelmayen6240]

Resista maestro #salmanrushdie Todos los casi 600 millones de herederos de Cervantes estamos con usted. Usted es nuestro Don Quijote.

[@mattdavis5453]

Maybe we all should read his main achievements e.g satanic verses and read The Quran to assess his intellectual depth!

[@mattdavis5453]

@@schmetterling4477 so you say mr Einstein! Without reading anything from Quran!

[@Saral_Lekhi]

Wait Bible and it's copies have changed the world.. haven't they?

[@abhilash4479]

A brilliant literary mind of the modern world.. both Indians talking about state of present India..is true..India is heading in a majoritarian , Authoritarian , hyper Nationalism direction..quite worried about where v r heading..(less attractive place).

[@SamvedIyer]

Such unadulterated drivel!

[@johnsharman7262]

Salman certainly hit world news in a way that must have changed his writing forever: he had to hide away for 10 years, many people were killed: he brought a hurricane to this country, the like of which we'd never seen; then he moved on. He'd tweaked the tiger's tail, in a way he never meant to, while describing satirically conditions under mid-Thatcherism as applied to immigration. Was he as innocent as he seems? We'll never know: what with having to live in artificial conditions for so long. But I'm sure we'll give him the benefit of the doubt; after all who else would like to live life on the run. Hope he lives to survive this latest outrage, with all his faculties intact.

[@muhammadsanusi5409]

Salman has had problems in defining the truth,and when he tried to redo it he found it that the Muslim world will never understand him.

[@karendalsadik7119]

So maybe being in an abusive family you have to confront such distasteful issues that you can’t be scared of confronting new ideas.

[@thishandleistaken1011]

"it's about time men had a tough time" Not a fan of this at all. It's poor, short, ugly men having the toughest time. How is it about time? Makes no sense. People of one gender suffering isn't some kind of justice.

[@jennyaskswhy]

I wish the interviewer allowed the thoughts and conversation to flow rather than jump on his subject with disruptive questioning style

[@rishabhaniket1952]

Can anyone back me up on the fact that Vonnegut is anything but clunky. His prose was brilliant.

[@titussamuel2440]

Hindu inflexibility or fundamentalism gained ground because the opposite identity was gaining power, it is the mirror image of muslim intolerance and condescending muslim attitude. Hindu supremacist position existed in fractions prior not significant, the anti soviet position of the west meant they needed every alliance to win the big fight, Muslim middle or Muslim progressive was silenced/eroded in the Middle East and central Asia as they were not willing to wage a military war against communism. (Hindu too was not willing to wage war against communism, Hindu could have been conscripted to fight soviet communists, however Indian communists were a significant number, they would have tilted the war in favor of the USSR). Pakistan became aggressive and militant to please the West. Indian Muslim too became radicalized, more due to the rewards than because they were anti Hindu). Nehru kind of seculars were popular in India for a while, they quoted western thinkers more profusely than the rest, Western thinkers were arguing for a rational human world over the divided religious world, superstition in any religion was to be condemned and ridiculed. Indian Hindus welcomed a logical rational world, they felt it was not anti Hindu to welcome a rational view). The huge wars has changed Muslim world view, the non radical Muslim wants religion to be far less important, a position now welcomed in the West too. Rushdie belongs to the middle path Muslims, they want friends, they don't want disrepute or isolation. They understand fanatics can not rule the new world. You (west) now realize you can negotiate with leftists but never with an inflamed religious fanatic. Fanatics don't negotiate.

[@johnmac1960]

Krishna, still asking and answering his own questions; he loves to preempt his guests' answers with his own empty words.

[@moderngames8892]

Excellent interview

[@interqward1]

I mean I agree with you Salman, but hey it's too tempting to pull your leg and say this to you, isn't it: 'Uthman's book changed the f*n' world, did it not...' ...Even gave you a theme or two to work on. Books change the world, dude. Even short pieces of fiction do as well - see: 'The Dodgy Dossier' by Christopher Steele. (Which was heavily plagiarized, btw).

[@murrayeldred3563]

How despicable his being knifed in the USA. Disgrace. Hopefully, the chap who did it gets a very long prision sentence.

[@grant9636]

His writing is better now he has moved away form the more fantastical elements of his past writing.

[@graham6132]

9:30 --"When I was starting out in this game, whenever there was a push toward censorship it would usually come from the right-wing, tt would usually come from authoritarian voices." ^^^^ PFFFFT, name one time that happened.

[@TheCorrectionist1984]

You're just trolling, right?!?!?!

[@chiefrocka8604]

I’d like a street named after salman in Bradford

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Have you seen the very camp mobeen Azhar showing the satanic verses to residents of Bradford? It is on KZbin...

[@GBT00975]

Salman Rushdie is loved so much If he ever wrote anything deemed anti-semitic, he will be utterly destroyed

[@rohankale1000]

GBT00975 you surely haven't read Dostoevsky's works and merchant of Venice.

[@brummiali1998]

Hes definitely not liked trust me only fools worship him

[@kapple654]

if he wrote anything anti-muslim he wouldn't be respected either, yet he clearly is, so why not review your opinion. the interviewer tries to blame strife on extremism in Pakistan and Rushdie clearly states at 20:19 that he thinks hindu nationalism is a bigger threat. and that is after being 20 years in hiding with a fatwah - I mean how much more tolerance can you expect from an individual!?

[@pensans1]

Channel 4 backs islamic blasphemy laws.

[@brummiali1998]

My friend was sooo rasist Mark was his name till I took him on a journey he said sorry for 12 years of me been in the bad groups I was brainwashed by idiots and I was so depressed but now I'm muslim I've healed im happy..I found me you see people eventually do realise and come to Islam

[@nana2four931]

12:00 young people need a little extra time to learn to confront ideas that they are not comfortable with. Interesting.

[@damiengirvan5020]

This stuff seems to be before it's time.......

[@ExiledGypsy]

I think the censurial attitude among undergraduates is part of delayed maturity seen across the population.There are a number of environmental reasons for it including absent fathers, single mothers, and growth of matriarchy within families (or as I call it mummy culture).

[@demonshaz]

"Books dont change the world ". I disagree. Without religious books this world wouldn't be recognizable by us. If a human went to a parallel earth that didn't have religions they would think they were in heaven or an alien world 100 percent different from ours

[@debd7631]

The Gulag Archipelago was one of the books that's ultimately discredited communism in the west and it wasn't surprising to see the fall of Soviet union shortly thereafter. Books and writing can be immensely powerful.

[@SalmonFume]

28:54 ,-)

[@dianecisco7503]

Lovely intelligent woman Enjoyed her interview

[@robertbrandywine]

?

[@kapple654]

ha ha. if that was a mistake that is priceless comedy.

[@sgee2175]

Perplexed and sad to see the tremendous support for the heinous attack on a writer on BBC Urdu. To the ignorant and extremist element, he is a hero. Is this the teaching of the so called "religion of peace?" What an oxymoron. This is a fitting example of how blind faith is not fit for today's modern societies.

[@ramsa01Yt]

The writer enjoys a mess we are experiencing now, because it gives him a thought to his writing. What he did not take from his reading of Sci-Fi in his youth is this: Humanity has a narrow window of opportunity and it uses it not efficiently. He fails to see demise of the western civilization threatening survival of human civilization, this is why he sees destruction of men as an attraction, not a problem. Women launching space rockets is a true fantasy and he fails to see tragedy of such beliefs.

[@kapple654]

I dont think Rushdie enjoyed the suffering he endured for his art. I think he saw it as a necessity. whether or not you think he is a great novelist is a valid argument for any reader of any book. but I dont think he created the conflicts of our time - rather tried to make sense of it. and it is true some men have constitutions for different times and purposes. England decided churchill was a man made for war not for peacetime - when they voted him out. but thank god we had him in a time of war.

[@alkaloitongbam6684]

I don't like the interviewer, he seem to be in such a rush👀

[@luaseast1251]

Larry David "fatwa".

[@biometa6232]

Silly snide comment from Guru-Murthy "he hasn't read a book." Talking about Trump. I don't like Trump but that's not necessary - he probably has and he's POTUS!

[@fawaziaali6814]

Books don't change the world......what about the Talmud, the Bible and the Quoran ?

[@uanditopia2239]

You mean the Talmud, the Holy Bible, and the Quran? Thanx for correcting him, ya gotta good point. As do I...

[@MarkMcAllister-ni9sf]

why is this shlub still being allow to interview people

[@sophieb3905]

The problem with saying that it's OK if men are questioning their gender role, is that these men aren't just middle, or upper-incomed, men who have never had any other challenges, or things to think about, in their lives. Some of these men are working class, low, or no, incomed people and have already been struggling, for decades, under the constant (and seemingly, practically inescapable) constraints of neo-liberal/conservative economic dominance and they simply can't take it anymore. They already feel like they were thrown on the scrap heap; almost 40 years ago, in some cases. They are, quite literally, killing themselves. They feel like there is no other way out and that society is hitting them when they're already down.

[@brummiali1998]

Thats why islam the quran is a healer..the best medince everr

[@cinnamongirl5410]

i live in the usa... saying trump is controlling the narrative here is in deep denial. smh jesus

[@kahlodiego5299]

I love the audiobook "East West."

[@rahuldahoob4513]

I have just bought it as a book...

[@kahlodiego5299]

@@rahuldahoob4513 On the audiobook Salman acts out the parts. I used to listen to it over and over on my Walkman when I worked as a baker.

[@rahuldahoob4513]

@@kahlodiego5299 quichotte and Shalimar the clown 🤡 are both also good

[@kahlodiego5299]

@@rahuldahoob4513 I didn't like the audiobook of Shalimar as much/didn't finish listening to it because Salman wasn't reading it. I'm very attached to Salman's voice.

[@atiqultrachannel3752]

Hahaha

[@irammahmood5514]

😴😴😴.

[@paulespinosa5195]

prolific orator, words mean,let's hear more

[@shrappnells]

Fake news

[@paulb5005]

These lovley people are sweet but completley irelervant,

[@rahuldahoob4513]

Hardly

[@johnnycaruthers7180]

Free Tommy

[@WillScarlet1991]

Johnny Caruthers+ Have you donated to his legal fund yet?

[@johnnycaruthers7180]

*Will Scarlett* Do I have to donate to verbally show my support for somebody?

[@WillScarlet1991]

Johnny Caruthers+ Tommy's asking for donations. What kind of supporter are you if you don't even donate a penny? - Words are easy to say. Action isn't.

[@jameshanson7]

There are some differences - Rushdie is intelligent, his criticisms of Islam are valid, and he's not a criminal.

[@jameshanson7]

That's true, but not compared to Tommy Robinson

[@mohammadhashim9693]

Salman Rushdie is an insult to literature.Integrating him alongside other genius writers is just dumb and foolishness.

[@naheem1845]

He’s a thumping bore. His novels are full of grotesque cartoons where life ought to exist if only he could master his schoolboy instinct to sketch ugliness into every corner of human experience. When a fiction-writer touts the waning of truth he/she is really failing to find a centre that holds.

[@okay850]

I guess you have preconceived notion about it. He seemed like a very interesting person to me.He talked about things that normally we do not think so deeply about.We need people like him who challenge the fixed ideas.

[@brummiali1998]

He looks like a satan

[@vincelaw437]

free tommy

[@anjansarkar9803]

This is one annoying interviewer ......

[@suerayss]

What's with Rushdie's nose ? Looks like a nose twitch or is that a nostril twerk ?

[@boogieeweb3]

Come on man you never had allergies???? You must be sooooo perfect!

[@irammahmood5514]

😂😂😂

[@rahuldahoob4513]

He writes about this N

[@suerayss]

@@boogieeweb3 No its not allergy. It twitches when he talks.. Its interesting to watch thats all. I don't want to talk about my imperfections today. Its a good day 🙂

[@bobwa399]

Amazing to see that such a person with so much of insight could do a meagre act of insulting a religion. Sad part of this person. Perhaps he needs to grow more mentally.

[@bobwa399]

@@schmetterling4477 Religion is not an insult. Its wrong interpretation and not reforming it with respect to changing times is. On the contrary to what you have said, religion is the major factor for many people to control themselves from harming others.

[@bobwa399]

@@schmetterling4477 And what is the definition of harm?