Salman Rushdie takes Imran Khan to task for skipping India Today Conclave 2012

[@soliloquiesbyshailja5416]

Rushdie's open mind and frankness is what others should adopt 👍

[@smallworld707]

This is epic roasting! Well done, Sir!

[@CRIMSONCUNT]

people like rushdie are the last hope for muslims

[@AazamKoser]

yes. not the last there are a few more like him. slowly the number is growing. High hopes

[@SuhaasAhuja]

One of the greatest thinkers of all time. Great how he highlighted how threatened all artists feel in India. It's a dangerous, horrible, shameful, unfortunate and highly regrettable situation, and it has to change for the better. We have to admit what is shameful about us and pledge to change, to better ourselves and to find the courage to be stronger. Public apathy has to go and those who practise violence have to know that they, in fact, are the minority. Wish I were as articulate as he is.

[@lulu66033]

Salman -- thank you for a splendid speech, we needed that -- we need people with open minds. "your offensiveness defines you" so true. Bravo

[@vikeyz1]

yo so secular the liberal fascist

[@junglebook1837]

Yeah.. anyone who spreads poison these days is so open minded..lol

[@1984abhasharma]

I would rather be a fan of Salman Rushdie than Salman Khan

[@Kevo216666]

Good for Rushdie. He didn't have to do this. It takes balls to break the rules.

[@AC-mp7cx]

loser

[@matinoutho9058]

Only not too far ago when his satanic verses book came out he was shaking in his shoes

[@CryptoChanakya]

Salute to this man.

[@Riza31417]

U gay?

[@Riza31417]

Charles Darwin yup

[@anandarupguin2927]

+chocoboyc Awesome !!! Really these are the things that need to be said and heard..:)

[@AbhilashKorraprolu]

OMG Such amount of intellect. Wow

[@Abhinavhind]

he is amazing.

[@GeoMariaGeorge]

If you don't defend it, you loose it. The freedom you get is what you demand and what you neglect is lose, forever. Wonderful! You are one of enlightenment cannon!

[@jonun8950]

no truer words spoken. We are seeing how our freedom has been gradually eroded under RSS-BJP

[@trueravan]

"Keeping 'those' balls in air....." - Killer!

[@TheMaskwa]

thank you so much salman for coming back home. i felt truly shameful about what happened to you in jaipur. i am so happy that you have come and placated some of the guilt i have felt. u have been immensely gracious. thank you.

[@3starbadman]

If you could point out exactly when, where, and how Rushdie allegedly "caused pain to billions of people" I'd be very grateful.

[@sujaypils]

Such a dull audience, they really didn't deserve to be in that audience when a person of Salman Rushdie's intellect speaks.

[@sanjarcode]

Maybe they were just afraid. Which is sad, TBH.

[@danialtanvir]

long live freedom of speech!..

[@aditya_saha]

how is it going now

[@danialtanvir]

Nothing

[@danialtanvir]

@@aditya_saha nothing.

[@vivekagrawal2455]

good speaker and a terrific writer!!

[@sukuvar]

Excellent speech... Great Personality.....Highly knowledgeable...

[@bstbody]

Satanic Verses , a book bought by many , read by none , making its never known before crap writer wealthy.............at a time when it was beginning to be fashionable to lie about WMD and Islam bashing was made popular sport ............ Jew hating and Jew bashing during 1930s, 40s Europe had become a sport .....Only the victims are changed

[@ChandrashekharSastryLOGIN]

sukuvar no

[@shujahatsaleemjarral]

یہ گشتی عورت کا بچہ ہے حرامی خنزیر جہنم کا ملازم ہے

[@sujaypils]

So true and so succinct. I always thought that we as Indians were famously tolerant and naturally argumentative in a relaxed and logical setting. Somehow we have forgotten our own great qualities and feel the need to defend our supposed cultural purity with a threat of violence and shaming. We were supposed to encourage all schools of thought and all world views to grow and blossom without being afraid of somehow losing our cultural and national identity. Is our identity so shaky and weak to be destroyed by any one person's voice that we need to strike him down immediately for fear of antagonizing others. Surely we are a far more resilient people after a millennium of influence from the outside world. We are still Indian and will only continue to do so by embracing every Indian's right to share his views without fear of retaliation or harm. We must protect all those in our country who have reason to feel cheated or treated unjustly regardless of how we may feel on that particular view. And surely, by now we all must see that religion is something so personal that there is no place for it to be thrust in the face of everyone around us and should remain only a personal guide to each person's personal development and happiness. Thank you Salman Rushide. You spoke beautifully.

[@rayzimmerman6740]

Well said Sujay.

[@rootkea]

+omkar yadav I'm sorry my friend but you missed the point. There is no point in pointing fingers. There is nothing great about any particular religion. You talked about Quran, kafir. Well, somebody will talk about "Manusmriti", Caste System, Sati Pratha. As Salman Rushdie aptly put, man created a fiction to explain the unexplained at any point of time. e.g. At a point of time it was lightning in the sky, some other time it might be a big bang. God, religion is all a work of fiction. Period. The only religion is humanity. Peace.

[@omkaryadav3677]

Of couse. We have one identity we r humans and humanity

[@xendit1635]

@@rootkea Manusmruti is not religious text. Read book of romila thapar. It's a secular book- that means it was laws. Manu never said that it was law of Gods.

[@xendit1635]

@@rootkea And Hinduism hasn't have one book, We have number of books and philosophy. Hinduism never said I am the truth. It's to search about truth. That's why we never had blasphemy laws. Christianity and Islam had.

[@BIGMAN9159]

mind blowing speech.....

[@astroshivadotcom]

fantastic speech, Mr. Rushdie.... A slap on the face of fundamentalists...

[@drshehryarmohsin.2003]

It is by human nature and psychology that human is very emotional.It is natural in humans as they have serotonin and endorphins, which regulate emotions. I would like to give an example that when female gives birth, and you take her baby away from her or disturb that baby, would she not get offended? when someone abuses your parents would you not be offended. There are many other examples, People should not be adamant, they should be flexible enough to realize that would not our speech hurts any community's sentiments.You should present your point of view but should not disgrace anybody from your freedom of speech. Everybody knows that Muslim populace revere their religion more than any other community. Thus, as a human being it is the responsibility of each individual to adore and respect muslims love towards their religion. Muslims only demand that nobody should disrespect or disgrace their religion as it hurts their feelings on the basis of freedom of speech. It is also universal law that nobody should hurt anybody's feelings by his power of speech. Hence, anybody hurting any community's sentiments on the basis of freedom of speech is not legitimate or either it must be not permissible. I hope United Nations would define the full meaning and code of conduct of this right of freedom of speech in future.

[@laksh1686]

Salutes this mam...... He know ik future so clearly....

[@greatlyking1234]

I love rushdie....his thoughts are so clear and modern

[@timothythomas4283]

I love rushdie too for his intellect and wit. But by NO means are these values 'modern'. As he himself suggested ideas of freedom and tolerance have long existed in this subcontinent. They have been given even clearer form in Europe in the enlightenment era. Stories from my grandfather have made it clear to me that in India we are losing these values decade by decade. We are succumbing to the propaganda of political opportunists, who like ever are using the concept of divide and rule to secure vote banks. You see states separating, protectionist polices being formed in the name of caste, creed or religion, a far cry from our roots of secularism. Worse yet, all this demagogic work is being done in the name of pluralism and people are just buying into it.

[@zoyazoya154]

Yes Bloodiest Mary

[@zoyazoya154]

Opportunist leaking Mary

[@zoyazoya154]

Did Christ have a go at Bloody Mary.. Check yet mail

[@zoyazoya154]

Joan of Arc was toasted with Danish butter and the Pope enjoyed tasting Bloody Mary...

[@TarunDesai7]

changed my point of view about a few things. thanks.

[@bhriguaneja9453]

"THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE EXCISE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH"

[@Rono900]

this man makes so much sense...respect

[@venkateshkannan5]

feels good ! thank you salman , thank you

[@sabine1470]

Rushdie ,perhaps by default has become a true hero for those who value freedom.

[@thirdpage8374]

He is truly the father of the contemporary journalism.A big king he is.

[@pingulion]

well spoken Mr Rushdie, hope Imran is listening.

[@Eddie303]

Salman Rushdie is the BEST.... and he speaks the truth....

[@tallvi]

Wow! Ultimate and bold thinker..Need of the hour is freedom of speech and democracy

[@kudalaMangalooru]

What an awesome speech by Rushdie laced with insight and gentle humor! Truly a very smart man who could speak of the truth from his heart. Freedom in all its forms needs to be upheld and defended, no matter what, before we lose it all.

[@drshehryarmohsin.2003]

It is by human nature and psychology that human is very emotional.It is natural in humans as they have serotonin and endorphins, which regulate emotions. I would like to give an example that when female gives birth, and you take her baby away from her or disturb that baby, would she not get offended? when someone abuses your parents would you not be offended. There are many other examples, People should not be adamant, they should be flexible enough to realize that would not our speech hurts any community's sentiments.You should present your point of view but should not disgrace anybody from your freedom of speech. Everybody knows that Muslim populace revere their religion more than any other community. Thus, as a human being it is the responsibility of each individual to adore and respect muslims love towards their religion. Muslims only demand that nobody should disrespect or disgrace their religion as it hurts their feelings on the basis of freedom of speech. It is also universal law that nobody should hurt anybody's feelings by his power of speech. Hence, anybody hurting any community's sentiments on the basis of freedom of speech is not legitimate or either it must be not permissible. I hope United Nations would define the full meaning and code of conduct of this right of freedom of speech in future.

[@anupampriyadarshi2830]

Damn that roast😂🤣😂🤣

[@Renusri12]

what is offensive in his speech in regards to Islam?

[@dumpulola8600]

is chetan bhagat there in the audience?

[@MrCitizenwarrior]

ya

[@navthaone]

cant even walk the streets, bcoz he speaks the truth.

[@aqeelhaider76]

Love the book...midnight was awesome

[@Trooperalbum]

If nothing else, Rushdie is awesome at speaking his mind without any hesitation whatsoever. I'm glad that the whole literature festival fiasco has been put behind and forgotten. :) It really was a dark spot on Indian liberty/freedom.

[@smokinjoe0]

Can someone mention who the woman at 24:52 is?

[@tauseefkhan603]

18:55 ''our culture'....respect.

[@Razi43]

When I was a child in school i came across a pretty poem titled 'the bluebell'. One of the verses in the poem read: "the thoughts of our hearts tinge our actions and stamp their reflection upon our faces". So true. Salman Rushdie looks so evil.

[@arsalansaleem6716]

True

[@anikyt7570]

Love you Salman Rushdie...

[@harekrishna165]

Salman Looks Like Anupam Khers Younger Brother Raju Kher....

[@uzochiokeke4328]

This is the greatest speech on the india today conclave.

[@amithbn]

@lewanay2003 Are you saying that what was perceived as acceptable in the bronze age is valid now? Are you completely oblivious to the shift in moral zeitgeist?

[@pal180]

One day India will wake up to the glorious truth of atheism and rationality.

[@yusuf.k.m]

Wonderful Speech.

[@amithbn]

@lewanay2003 He expands the discussion of freedom of speech in every context it has been trampled upon in India. I guess you were sleepy or not paying attention. Better hit the replay button.

[@amithbn]

@lewanay2003 It wasn't his assessment alone but a general assessment that he talks about. He remarks that Imran was known as a dimwit. But haven't you also made an assessment yourself and what qualifies you to do so? In any case, he backs the assessment by highlighting numerous follies of Imran.

[@avinashasitis]

Amazing personality, great great speech. But look what chetan bhagat is doing - busy texting on his mobile just like some people out there. No wonder he writes crappy novels. These words must be too taxing for his ears.

[@yashasvityagi]

Good one mate

[@pakistaniboy4567]

Don't compare a cheap Chetan Bhagat to actual thinkers

[@avinashasitis]

pakistaniboy45 Who is comparing? Did you even read my comments?

[@hitesh05]

I heard Imran`s argument on this matter....and i did not believe...whatever he said....

[@abdulmaliktalib2229]

Salman Rushdie still holds an Indian Passport.

[@maitrimoymukherjee1825]

Salman Rusndi one of the best intellectuals around and he should be free to express his views in India. I may not agree with him in many issues but that does not mean that I will stop freedom of speech..

[@2sridhark]

I do not think Imm the Dim has enough I.Q to read even a few pages of "Satanic Verses" leave aside debate that book with anyone.

[@tih0m]

I like to develop my own view on life and I want to learn principles on my own, not from some man-written book written by a man long time ago. Enough bad things happen in the world because of religion to convince me to stay away from it.

[@lewanay2003]

@amithbn Graduation from Oxford, successful cricket captain for more than a decade, VC of Bradford, writer of three books and many thought provoking articles, philanthropist who established cancer hospital and a university, head of a political party and anticipated Premier of a nuclear country amount to qualify somebody to be called dimwit then I am afraid that every sane human on the surface of earth would love to be called dimwit. This is what they call pot is calling the kettle black

[@motorheadxi]

Talking about Pakistan in that manner to please certain Indian elite who will pay him to live a lavish life....hurting millions by writing and saying what he please to make a quick buck.. he has no class...

[@jamesbaldwin5532]

Salman Rushdie is the Mehdi the prophet came to reform and uplift Muslims. Every Muslim should follow him.

[@MilindKolekar76]

Awesome! Simply awesome. Salman Rushdie needs to visit India more often, just to remind us, how far this drift is taking us. Thank You Sir.

[@amithbn]

@lewanay2003 I am not saying that Imran's intellect is a consequence of reading or not reading Rushdie's book. His assessment of Imran's intellect as mentioned by Rushie predates the book, back to his playboy days in London. We first need to settle on a definition of sane. But you don't quite address the point of free speech, blasphemy in your latest comment. The speech is mostly about that with only a few funny jibes at Imran Khan.

[@lewanay2003]

@amithbn Could you please tell me that what qualifies Rushdie to make such assessment. I didn't comment because I don't buy his views regarding freedom of speech.

[@avora26]

I would request youtube to please remove some of the comments here, very very hurtful for Muslims.

[@tommckee528]

Wisdom is a gift that must be shared. May Salman Rushdie continue to nourish the world.

[@zeeshan8love]

Imran Khan should thank him as his absurd criticism will improve imran's popularity. Why would he debate with him as he is leading a nation, why would he waste his time on him.

[@daddashikamani]

You do not get it. Its not about Muslims or Hindus. Its about Freedom Of Speech. I can offend you, you can get offended. No problem, but you have no Right to issue a threat or use violence against me. If you rake up the absurd argument about emotional and personal hurt, then where does it stop? I as a vegetarian feel hurt whenever an animal is killed for Human consumption. Will you respect by sense of offence and stop eating meat? Better to have unlimited free speech than none.

[@AdnanHussainGakhar-TCHRBLGTC]

oh yes you dear . . . . you got the place when he is not there. . . . so enjoy your bouncers on empty pitch. . .

[@Knapid]

I agree with every single thing this man has said, these are the people of today, the people of now !

[@einzelganger7744]

These are the kind of Muslims that I have respect for... Salute to Salman rushdie.

[@RunhdeepS.Sandhu]

.01% of Muslims tho

[@Abhinavhind]

Thank you Sir !

[@daddashikamani]

Riots in Gujrat started after Muslims without provocation burned down a train carrying Hindus,killing 59 people.After that no power on earth could have stopped the violence. People will be people. I don't admire Christian imperialism,but that doesn't excuse the shocking behaviour of Muslims all over the world.Pak killed 3 Mil people of their own kind,3000 people died in Karachi in the past year.I can go on.Compared to the hundreds of examples,Burmese incident can be called a one off. Isn't it?

[@balkrishnaparab3353]

Observe the discomfiture of Parmeshwar Godrej, sitting in the from row besides Mr. Poorie!

[@thirdpage8374]

Need to change the fashion of headlines.

[@AngchukMayur]

.Hats off man !!!

[@lokeshjoshi2895]

I didn't know it was Roast 😂😂

[@amithbn]

@lewanay2003 I tell you what. Religion is best practised inside the walls of your home. Don't impose your sense of morality on people who differ with you. That's what Sharia tries to do. Bronze age morality that you are so keen to uphold.

[@HarshKalra490]

There is no law in Poland that will punish you for praising Hitler or Nazism. But thr is a law in Poland n many othr European countries as well as Israel 4 publishing anything tht says tht holocaust did not happen. Now many ppl who speak f4 freedom of speech n expression r against this, but this law was just a result of guilt of d countries tht did nothing 2 protect their Jew population, lik Poland n Austria, where Jews were just handed over, unlike France where attempts were made to save them.

[@lewanay2003]

@amithbn! I don't know anything about moral Zeitgeist. However, I have thoroughly studied Neitzche's views on morality. The concept of master morality make good sense to me... As far as your argument about Bronze age is concerned, I believe something that was acceptable in any age can be valid for now provided it make sense. Brother, ee live in the world of constructivism and complexity. The concept of objective reality is gone.

[@AdnanHussainGakhar-TCHRBLGTC]

you spoke for so long for that unimportant man - Imran Khan

[@xendit1635]

Because he challenged him and then ran away from debate.

[@CaptainGeek5]

Don't ask- Who gives you the right to upset ppl?? Ask- Who gives the ppl who are upset to come and attack me??? Simply EPIC!!!!!!!! Those who dont understand this dont understand freedom :D

[@irfannaz9500]

Imran visited all over the world freely and you Mr. Rushdie just need permission/security to enter most of the counties around even in the country, you born in. Not much difference in body shapes of a tiger and dog but their living styles. No matter if a dog barking in a Palace or on a Road side, he is due to get ''NO'' attention.

[@barakatulla]

Dear Salman Rashdie, In real life you never met any single human being who is 100% Honest in general and particularly where money matters. Therefore it is hard for you to be among those who can understand, believe and follow the commandments of the Lord of the Universe. The position of Human Heart is not observation after feeling in Real life. Rather it is Feeling itself which can be before/after observation in the Real Life. The Best among human is who can control the heart after feelings.

[@RealSameerRaza]

this guy is no where near to imran khan.

[@ananthu8909]

Brilliant!

[@lewanay2003]

@amithbn It is not a parody rather qualify as hateful comments. Oh..Sorry I forgot its Rushdie, who is known for mocking, twisting and wrongly tainting. From his own wife to the queen of england. From Shri RAM to Muhammad. Everything is object of hat for Rushdie

[@Razi43]

If insulting an entire religious community on this earth is accepted giving the excuse of 'freedom of speech' then issuing threats can also be justified as freedom of speech or a justified response. Knowing very well that you deeply respect and love your parents and adore your children I mischievously choose to insult your entire family by making fun of them all should i be excused? Wouldn't this be an act of very high indecency on my part. For this you certainly have a right to threaten me.

[@vipulnath6046]

28.59 listen carefully, someone has dubbed Rushdie's voice, and replaced the whole point he was making with another note of political correctness, lol doublestandardness of us Indians we are even scared of honest criticism. Or it seems some powers will never let the actual issues fall to our ears

[@CookWithZareena]

He shouldn't even be taking the name of Manto!!! Manto was a much greater writer than this man. What a waist of time this man is!

[@kalidasswaminathan4341]

Manto would have loved Rushdi.

[@DELHIBOMBAYDARBAR]

We had freedom of expression during Tilak, Agarkar, Gokhale. More during Acharya Atre and Jyotiba Phule.

[@xgrapher]

how about freedom of eating beef

[@rsplenum]

so huh 130 pakistanis have viewed this video so far and disliked it.

[@Bhruguraj]

this is where we say it's western perception .. asuras are not demons .. there were many good asuras also .. lakshmi is asuraputri (daughter of asura) ... bhim was married to hidimba .. good lecture though

[@Liger99297]

I APPRECIATE HIS DARENESS

[@papputhegrate]

Lol. Shame on all those people who are after his shit life as if they don't have anything else to do. Shame on all of them who have made him rich by being after his shit life! Shame on you.

[@akhilbajaj81]

Also peace in world will come when u make peace with even Rushdie .. i dont care if he makes fun of my Gods .. that's his view .. i am not here to force him to accept wht i believe as the absolute truth .. if God so wishes he will enlighten him .. who am I or you to decide when God will make his presence felt to Rushdie ??? by taking that role you are behaving as a non believer .. by assuming your wisdom is more critical than God's !! pls let God help him chart Rushdie's own path ..

[@sohailnabi618]

Imran khan is a great man. And Rushdie you are .....

[@mtarkes]

Imran's Baap.

[@papputhegrate]

Why would you want to spit in his face? What did he do to you? In fact, what is wrong in whatever he spoke?

[@sohampablo]

brilliant speech. especially the atheistic origins of indian culture.

[@JAQ274]

Well,what made India today to bring the son of late salman taseer,there are hell of problems in India which India today should focus on.

[@ujj0071]

Mr.Rushide you are brave

[@siddeequenoordeen8689]

RUSDIE BELITTLED IMRANKAN IN HIS SPEECH.BUT HE HAS ALREADY BECOME THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN.

[@71espn]

He has been selected. What's great in being a puppet leader of a beggar state.

[@stuross74]

Free speech and thinking usually comes easily just as soon as people have a decent education and decent standard of living, at least Imran Khan has made efforts in this field, as bright as Mr Rushdie is, i feel he is shut away from understanding the thoughts that arise in people who are suffering from a lack of education and their poverty/oppression etc. I find him rather irritating and self serving at times...