nilanjana s roy

Tag: Rushdie

  • Speaking Volumes: Freedom For The Thought We Hate

    (A shorter version of this was published in the Business Standard, 4th February, 2013. This is only a brief and partial look at some judgements on free speech and artistic expression in India, and does not claim to be comprehensive.) The problem with this country’s vast throngs of would-be censors, from the genuinely easily offended…

  • Column: A perforated history

    (Published in the Business Standard, September 2012) “I was born in the city of Bombay…once upon a time. No, that won’t do, there’s no getting away from the date.” And so Saleem Sinai tumbled into our lives, 32 years ago, bearing with him the excess of “intertwined lives events miracles places rumours” that made up…

  • Scenes from Diggi Palace

    (Published in the Business Standard, January 23, 2007) “Mr Rushdie,” said the girl, “What was your first reaction to the fatwa? Was it a) hurt b) shock c) anger or d) like in Amar Prem, did you think, ‘kuch to log kehenge’?” She had beaten everyone else to the mike as Salman Rushdie concluded the…