In brief
The Indian government has removed a 36-year-old ban on "The Satanic Verses," initiated in 1988, due to the inability to find the original notification. This decision opens a new chapter for the book in its home country.
In a significant development regarding literary freedom, India’s long-standing ban on Salman Rushdie’s novel "The Satanic Verses" has been lifted after 36 years. Initially imposed shortly after the book's publication in 1988, the ban was a response to concerns from some orthodox Muslims regarding sections of the novel deemed blasphemous.The government had issued a notification through the Ministry of Finance prohibiting imports of the book. This week, however, a Delhi high court ruled that the ban must be overturned due to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs’ inability to locate the original order, dated October 5, 1988. The court stated, “We have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists,” effectively ending the prohibition.Rushdie himself expressed bewilderment years ago about how the finance ministry could dictate what literature was acceptable for Indian readers. With the court’s decision, "The Satanic Verses" can now be legally imported into India, marking a pivotal moment for the freedom of expression in the country and a potential shift in how Rushdie's work is received at home after decades of controversy.
