Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel The Satanic Verses has quietly made its way back to India, 36 years after it was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government. The book, known for its provocative themes and its portrayal of characters and narratives deemed blasphemous by some Muslim groups, has resurfaced in a “limited stock” at Bahrisons Booksellers in New Delhi.
According to store owner Rajni Malhotra, the response to the book has been positive, with strong sales reported since its arrival. Priced at Rs 1,999, The Satanic Verses is currently only available at Bahrisons’ stores across Delhi-NCR.
On social media, the bookstore celebrated the return of the novel, describing it as “groundbreaking and provocative,” acknowledging the global debates it sparked over free expression, faith, and art. Manasi Subramaniam, Editor-in-Chief at Penguin Random House India, also shared her excitement about the book’s availability, quoting Rushdie’s words about the power of language and truth.
In November, the Delhi High Court closed proceedings on a petition challenging the ban on the novel’s import, as government authorities failed to provide the relevant notification from October 5, 1988. The court deemed the petition “infructuous,” effectively ending the legal barriers against its sale.
The Satanic Verses was at the centre of a global controversy after its 1988 publication. In 1991, the book’s Japanese translator was murdered, and in 2022, Rushdie himself was stabbed during a public event in the U.S., an attack that left him with lasting injuries.
Despite the book’s availability, the response from readers has been mixed, particularly due to its high price.
