Childhood and Education Journey of Salman Rushdie in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Salman Rushdie, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British and American novelist known for blending magic realism and historical fiction. His work explores the relationships between Eastern and Western civilizations, often focusing on the Indian subcontinent. He is celebrated for his second novel, Midnight's Children (1981), which won the Booker Prize and was twice recognized as the best novel among all Booker Prize winners on the 25th and 40th anniversaries.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

June 1947: Salman Rushdie Born in Bombay

On June 19, 1947, Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay, British India, into a Kashmiri Muslim family. His parents were Anis Ahmed Rushdie, a lawyer-turned-businessman, and Negin Bhatt, a teacher.

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1964: Moves to England

In 1964, Salman Rushdie moved to England to attend Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire.

1976: Married Clarissa Luard

In 1976, Salman Rushdie married Clarissa Luard, literature officer of the Arts Council of England.

1979: Birth of son Zafar

In 1979, Salman Rushdie and Clarissa Luard had a son, Zafar.

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1987: Divorced Clarissa Luard

In 1987, Salman Rushdie's marriage to Clarissa Luard ended in divorce.

1988: Married Marianne Wiggins

In 1988, Salman Rushdie married American novelist Marianne Wiggins.

1988: Publication of The Satanic Verses and Fatwa

In 1988, Salman Rushdie's fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, was published, leading to controversy. Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of Iran, issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie's death due to the book's perceived irreverent depiction of Muhammad.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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February 1989: Fatwa Ordering Rushdie's Execution

On 14 February 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed a fatwa on Radio Tehran ordering Salman Rushdie's execution for writing "The Satanic Verses," which was deemed blasphemous against Islam.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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March 1989: UK and Iran Broke Diplomatic Relations

On 7 March 1989, the United Kingdom and Iran broke diplomatic relations over the Rushdie controversy and the fatwa.

1989: Rushdie Discusses Muslim Faith and Secular Humanism

In 1989, in an interview following the fatwa, Rushdie said that he was in a sense a lapsed Muslim, though "shaped by Muslim culture more than any other," and a student of Islam. In another interview the same year, he said, "My point of view is that of a secular human being. I do not believe in supernatural entities, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Hindu."

December 1990: Rushdie Reaffirms Muslim Faith in Statement

In December 1990, Rushdie issued a statement reaffirming his Muslim faith, distancing himself from statements made by characters in Satanic Verses. He also opposed the release of the paperback edition of the novel.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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1990: Reviews Vineland and Meets Thomas Pynchon

In 1990, Salman Rushdie reviewed Thomas Pynchon's Vineland in The New York Times and met the author for dinner.

Vineland (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin)

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1992: Rushdie Regrets His Statement Reaffirming Muslim Faith

Later, in 1992, Rushdie cited the release of the statement as perhaps his lowest point, regretting its language, which he said he had not written.

August 1993: Public Appearance at U2 Concert

On 11 August 1993, Salman Rushdie made a public appearance at London's Wembley Stadium during a concert by U2, despite the danger posed by the fatwa.

1993: Divorced Marianne Wiggins

In 1993, Salman Rushdie and Marianne Wiggins divorced.

1997: Married Elizabeth West and birth of son Milan

In 1997, Salman Rushdie married British editor and author Elizabeth West. They had a son, Milan, born in 1997.

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1999: Rushdie Supported NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia

In 1999, Rushdie supported the NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

1999: First Meeting with Padma Lakshmi

In 1999, Salman Rushdie first met Padma Lakshmi, who was 28 years old at the time.

1999: Operation to correct ptosis

In 1999, Salman Rushdie had an operation to correct ptosis, a condition causing drooping of the upper eyelid, which made it difficult for him to open his eyes.

2000: Moved to the United States

Since 2000, Salman Rushdie has lived in the United States, mostly near Union Square in Lower Manhattan, New York City.

2001: Rushdie Supportive of the US-Led Campaign in Afghanistan

In 2001, Rushdie was supportive of the US-led campaign to remove the Taliban in Afghanistan.

2003: Rushdie Critic of the War in Iraq

In 2003, Rushdie was a vocal critic of the war in Iraq, stating that while there was a "case to be made for the removal of Saddam Hussein", US unilateral military intervention was unjustifiable.

2003: Expressed preference for India over Pakistan

In 2003, Salman Rushdie said "Pakistan sucks" after being asked about why he felt more like an outsider there than in India or England, citing India's diversity and openness as his preference.

2004: Divorced Elizabeth West

In 2004, Salman Rushdie and Elizabeth West ended their relationship after a miscarriage and later divorced.

2004: Married Padma Lakshmi

In 2004, shortly after his third divorce, Salman Rushdie married Padma Lakshmi.

August 2005: Rushdie Calls for Reform in Islam

In mid-August 2005, Rushdie called for a reform in Islam in a guest opinion piece printed in The Washington Post and The Times.

March 2006: Signed manifesto Together Facing the New Totalitarianism

In March 2006, following the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, Salman Rushdie signed the manifesto Together Facing the New Totalitarianism, which warned of the dangers of religious extremism. The manifesto was published in Charlie Hebdo in March 2006.

2006: Rushdie Criticizes Moral and Cultural Relativism

In 2006, Rushdie described his view on moral and cultural relativism in an interview with Point of Inquiry.

2006: Rushdie Supports Jack Straw's Comments on Niqab

In 2006, Rushdie stated that he supported comments by Jack Straw, who criticized the wearing of the niqab. Rushdie stated that his three sisters would never wear the veil.

2006: Lamented the division of Kashmir

In 2006, in an interview about his novel Shalimar the Clown, Rushdie lamented the division of Kashmir into zones of Indian and Pakistani administration.

Shalimar the Clown

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2006: Rushdie Identifies as a Hardline Atheist

In a 2006 interview with PBS, Rushdie called himself a "hardline atheist".

January 2007: Lakshmi Asked For Divorce

In January 2007, Padma Lakshmi asked for a divorce from Salman Rushdie, after which the couple filed it in July of that year.

2007: Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University

In 2007, Salman Rushdie began a five-year term as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has also deposited his archives.

August 2008: Rushdie Receives Apology in High Court

On 26 August 2008, Rushdie received an apology at the High Court in London from Ron Evans, his co-author and their publisher, regarding Evans' planned book release.

2009: Pia Glenn's criticism

In 2009, actress Pia Glenn criticized Salman Rushdie as "cowardly, dysfunctional, and immature" after he ended their relationship via email.

2010: Adam Clayton Recalls Rushdie's Visits to U2 Concerts

In 2010, U2 bassist Adam Clayton recalled that after his public appearance at their Wembley concert in 1993, Salman Rushdie was a regular visitor backstage.

July 2012: Criticism of gun control

In July 2012, Salman Rushdie blamed a shooting at a Colorado cinema on the American right to keep and bear arms, expressing his support for gun control.

2012: Criticism of Imran Khan

In 2012, Rushdie was critical of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan after Khan took personal jabs at him in an interview.

2012: Embraces Booktrack with "In the South"

In 2012, Salman Rushdie embraced Booktrack by publishing his short story "In the South" on the platform, making him one of the first major authors to do so.

2014: Taught a seminar on British Literature

In 2014, Salman Rushdie taught a seminar on British Literature and served as the 2015 keynote speaker.

September 2015: Joined New York University Journalism Faculty

In September 2015, Salman Rushdie joined the New York University Journalism Faculty as a Distinguished Writer in Residence.

2015: Rushdie's Views on Literature and Feminism in 2015

In 2015 Rushdie stated that there are the larger stories, the grand narratives that we live in, which are things like nation, and family, and clan, and so on. Those stories are considered to be treated reverentially. His support of feminism can also be seen in a 2015 interview with New York magazine's The Cut.

2015: Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU

In 2015, Salman Rushdie was named Distinguished Writer in Residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University.

2016: Acquired American citizenship and voted for Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Salman Rushdie acquired American citizenship and voted for Hillary Clinton in that year's election.

August 2019: Criticized Revocation of Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir

In August 2019, Salman Rushdie criticized the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an atrocity.

July 2020: Signed Harper's Letter

In July 2020, Salman Rushdie was among the 153 signers of the "Harper's Letter", also known as "A Letter on Justice and Open Debate", which expressed concern over the constriction of free exchange of information and ideas.

2021: Married Rachel Eliza Griffiths

In 2021, Salman Rushdie married American poet and novelist Rachel Eliza Griffiths.

August 2022: Attack on Salman Rushdie in New York

On 12 August 2022, while about to start a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, Rushdie was attacked by a man who rushed onto the stage and stabbed him repeatedly. He was airlifted to UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he underwent surgery.

October 2022: Rushdie Loses Sight in One Eye and Use of One Hand After Attack

On 23 October 2022, Wylie reported that Rushdie had lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand but survived the murder attempt.

2022: Rushdie Attacked in New York

In 2022, Salman Rushdie was attacked and severely injured as he was about to give a public lecture in New York.

2022: Stabbing at Chautauqua Institution

In 2022, Salman Rushdie was stabbed at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, resulting in the loss of his right eye and damage to his liver and hands.

October 2023: Expressed horror at Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's retaliation

In October 2023, Salman Rushdie expressed his "horror" at both Hamas' attack on Israel and Israel's retaliation in the Gaza Strip and called for a "cessation in hostilities".

January 2024: Trial of Hadi Matar Delayed

In January 2024, the jury selection for the trial was originally scheduled to begin on 8 January 2024. However, Matar's lawyer successfully petitioned to delay the trial, arguing that they are entitled to see the memoir and any related materials before Matar stands trial, as the documents constitute evidence.

May 2024: Arguments About Palestinian State

In May 2024, Rushdie argued that if a Palestinian state ever came into being, it would resemble a "Taliban-like state" and become a client state of Iran. He voiced his puzzlement regarding the current support of progressive students for what he described as a "fascist terrorist group".