Wed Dec 25 15:24:39 UTC 2024: ## Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” Returns to India After 36-Year Ban

**New Delhi, December 25, 2024** – Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel, “The Satanic Verses,” has quietly returned to India after a 36-year ban, sparking mixed reactions. A limited stock of the book, which was banned in 1988 by the Rajiv Gandhi government following protests from Muslim organizations, is currently being sold at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR.

The book’s reappearance follows a Delhi High Court ruling in November that dismissed a petition challenging the ban due to the government’s failure to produce the original ban notification. This effectively lifted the import ban, although the book’s high price of ₹1,999 has resulted in varied responses.

While Bahrisons Booksellers reports strong sales, some potential buyers express reservations. A tech entrepreneur stated they would wait for a cheaper Indian edition, while a Delhi University student believes only collectors or ardent Rushdie fans would purchase it at the current price. However, others view the book’s availability as a significant victory against censorship and a crucial addition to India’s literary history.

The novel’s publication initially led to a fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for Rushdie’s death. The author spent years in hiding, and the book’s translator was murdered in 1991. Rushdie himself was attacked in 2022. Other bookstores have indicated they will not be importing the book at this time. The return of “The Satanic Verses” marks a significant turning point in the ongoing debate surrounding freedom of expression and censorship in India.

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