When an author writes, he is just venting out his beliefs and feelings. It is a one man’s opinion and learning. His idea is communicated through his writings and it might interest a target of audience. But the purpose of writing is never to transform target audience into his beliefs. People read someone as they could connect to that author or like his writings. Nothing more than that!
Why am I writing this?
I have read almost all the links around ‘Satanic Verses’ by Salman Rushdie. I am trying to understand what is that content that is stopping a 65 year old author to visit Literature Festival even virtually?
I read all the links and I am just at one conclusion can one book (I agree might have hurt sentiments of particular target audience) overlook his contribution to the field of literature. Is it right to forget what all he has contributed to the field of literature as the names are not few. ‘Midnight’s Children’, ‘Shame’, ‘Nicaragua’, ‘The Ground Beneath Her Feet’, ‘Shalimar the Crown’ and many more are his opinions that were appreciated and awarded.
I am not in favour or against of all those who read him and all those who are not supporting his visit to India. But just a thought, it is a world of opinions and we cannot always write for everyone. There will be 10 writings that might be liked by people though one writing that can be criticised. But what is the ratio that matters. Literature Festival is to acknowledge all those who have given their lives to writing. An author visits a festival not just for his one book but his contribution to literature on a broader perspective.
I will certainly plan to visit it next year if things go fine in my life to know more about the Festival, personally.
It was a thought and I just blogged!
