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IN PICS | Persecuted author Salman Rushdie's life decoded

Author Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed on the stage at an event in New York City on Friday. He was about to deliver his speech when the attacker, a 24-year-old Muslim man Hadi Matar, stormed onto the stage and stabbed the author multiple times. Here is a look at the significant events of his life.
Author Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed on the stage at an event in New York City on Friday. He was about to deliver his speech when the attacker, a 24-year-old Muslim man Hadi Matar, stormed onto the stage and stabbed the author. Here is a look at
Author Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed on the stage at an event in New York City on Friday. He was about to deliver his speech when the attacker, a 24-year-old Muslim man Hadi Matar, stormed onto the stage and stabbed the author. Here is a look at
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Rushdie attended the event to deliver a speech on how the US was a safe haven for exiled writers, when the attacker, dressed in black, jumped onto the stage and stabbed the writer multiple times. 'The news is not good,' Andrew Wylie, his book agent, wrote in an email. 'Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.' (Photo | AP)
Rushdie attended the event to deliver a speech on how the US was a safe haven for exiled writers, when the attacker, dressed in black, jumped onto the stage and stabbed the writer multiple times. 'The news is not good,' Andrew Wylie, his book agent, wrote in an email. 'Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.' (Photo | AP)
Writers including JK Rowling and Stephen King expressed their horror at the attack. US writers' organization PEN America said it was 'reeling from shock and horror at word of a brutal, premeditated attack' on Rushdie. 'Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never flinched nor faltered,' PEN America chief executive Suzanne Nossel said in a statement. (Photo | PTI)
Writers including JK Rowling and Stephen King expressed their horror at the attack. US writers' organization PEN America said it was 'reeling from shock and horror at word of a brutal, premeditated attack' on Rushdie. 'Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never flinched nor faltered,' PEN America chief executive Suzanne Nossel said in a statement. (Photo | PTI)
Rushdie was born on June 19, 1947, in Bombay, now Mumbai, India. (Photo | AFP)
Rushdie was born on June 19, 1947, in Bombay, now Mumbai, India. (Photo | AFP)
Grimus, Rushdie's first published book, did not achieve huge success. However, critics saw him as an author with significant potential. (File Photo)
Grimus, Rushdie's first published book, did not achieve huge success. However, critics saw him as an author with significant potential. (File Photo)
Rushdie's second novel, 'Midnight's Children', in 1981 won him the Booker Prize. In 2008 it was named the 'Booker of Bookers' after winning a public vote for the best Booker-winning novel in 40 years of the award. (Photo | AFP)
Rushdie's second novel, 'Midnight's Children', in 1981 won him the Booker Prize. In 2008 it was named the 'Booker of Bookers' after winning a public vote for the best Booker-winning novel in 40 years of the award. (Photo | AFP)
Rushdie's style is referred to as Magic Realism, in which realistic events are interwoven with fantastic elements. (Photo | PTI)
Rushdie's style is referred to as Magic Realism, in which realistic events are interwoven with fantastic elements. (Photo | PTI)
In 'Midnight's Children', Rushdie tells the story of India's detachment from the British Empire based on the life stories of protagonists who are born at the precise moment of independence and are endowed with supernatural abilities. (File Photo)
In 'Midnight's Children', Rushdie tells the story of India's detachment from the British Empire based on the life stories of protagonists who are born at the precise moment of independence and are endowed with supernatural abilities. (File Photo)
'The Satanic Verses', was released in 1988 and swiftly banned in Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and other countries. It was banned for import to India. (Photo | AFP)
'The Satanic Verses', was released in 1988 and swiftly banned in Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and other countries. It was banned for import to India. (Photo | AFP)
In 1989, Iran issued a fatwa, or religious decree, that called for Rushdie to be killed for insulting Islam in 'The Satanic Verses'. He was driven underground and for over a decade lived between safe houses and under the pseudonym Joseph Anton. In 2009, Iran reiterated the fatwa and announced it was 'still valid'. (Photo | AP)
In 1989, Iran issued a fatwa, or religious decree, that called for Rushdie to be killed for insulting Islam in 'The Satanic Verses'. He was driven underground and for over a decade lived between safe houses and under the pseudonym Joseph Anton. In 2009, Iran reiterated the fatwa and announced it was 'still valid'. (Photo | AP)
In 1991, the Japanese translator of Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verse', Hitoshi Igarashiwas, was stabbed to death. In the same year, Ettore Capriolo, its Italian translator, was stabbed to death and in 1993, its Norwegian publisher was shot. (Photo | AFP)
In 1991, the Japanese translator of Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verse', Hitoshi Igarashiwas, was stabbed to death. In the same year, Ettore Capriolo, its Italian translator, was stabbed to death and in 1993, its Norwegian publisher was shot. (Photo | AFP)
In 1990, Newsweek published an essay by Rushdie, 'In Good Faith', where he sought to defend his novel. (Photo | AFP)
In 1990, Newsweek published an essay by Rushdie, 'In Good Faith', where he sought to defend his novel. (Photo | AFP)
In 1993, Rushdie participated in the founding of the International Parliament of Writers aimed at protecting writers and freedom of speech. It was dissolved in 2003. (Photo | AP)
In 1993, Rushdie participated in the founding of the International Parliament of Writers aimed at protecting writers and freedom of speech. It was dissolved in 2003. (Photo | AP)
Rushdie's 'Shalimar the Clown' was published in 2005. It had several narrative threads revolving around Kashmir. (Photo | AP)
Rushdie's 'Shalimar the Clown' was published in 2005. It had several narrative threads revolving around Kashmir. (Photo | AP)
In 2007, Rushdie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature, prompting widespread Muslim protests, notably in Pakistan. (File Photo)
In 2007, Rushdie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature, prompting widespread Muslim protests, notably in Pakistan. (File Photo)
In 2012, Rushdie published his memoir 'Joseph Anton' looking back at his year underground. (Photo | AP)
In 2012, Rushdie published his memoir 'Joseph Anton' looking back at his year underground. (Photo | AP)
In 2015, Rushdie's 'Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights' was released. (Photo | AP)
In 2015, Rushdie's 'Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights' was released. (Photo | AP)
In 2016, Rushdie became a US citizen after living in New York for around 20 years. (File Photo)
In 2016, Rushdie became a US citizen after living in New York for around 20 years. (File Photo)
In 2020, Rushdie was short-listed for the Booker Prize for 'Quichotte', a modern version of the Cervantes classic. (Photo | PTI)
In 2020, Rushdie was short-listed for the Booker Prize for 'Quichotte', a modern version of the Cervantes classic. (Photo | PTI)
Rushdie had been married four times. He was last married to Padma Lakshmi, a fashion model and cooking expert, in 2004. The couple parted ways in 2007. (Photo | PTI)
Rushdie had been married four times. He was last married to Padma Lakshmi, a fashion model and cooking expert, in 2004. The couple parted ways in 2007. (Photo | PTI)
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