Written by Shivaji Dasgupta
For lovers of Rushdie's literature, this may be a disappointment. For others who enjoy human resurrection, this can cause meltdowns. The Knife is an example of seesaw writing, effortlessly moving from irredeemable genius to painful repetition in just a few words. But it's Rushdie, so I have to read it.
Readers may be aware of the August 2022 knife attack on Rushdie in upstate New York (Chautauqua). After surviving the gruesome Ayatollah fatwa since 1989, this event, which happened long after the fat woman finished singing, almost sounds like an anticlimactic throwback. This book is a survivor's account of the events of that day and the days that followed, using bold free association and lateral thinking in de Bono language.breathed into life
On the eve of her encounter with Mr. A, a man affectionately described as almost an assassin, Tsuki becomes an unexpected hero. With great vigor, he begins a journey of tactical destruction aimed at shamelessly flooding the reader with eclectic excess. Good luck, Mr. Gorsky, The route map of the Greek sun god and Italo Calvino's story of when the moon and earth were next to each other and shaking hands are attributed to Neil Armstrong. This is the purpose of this article. A gorgeous flirtation of mind and soul without needing to ask for or give reasons.
But then an act of “motiveless malice” (Shakespeare) occurs, and 27 seconds of infamy shakes his hard-won equilibrium. Perhaps it is foreshadowed in Shalimar the Clown, perhaps in Kafka's The Trial and Polanski's The Knife in the Water, but it actually happens to him. A man runs from the audience while throwing a boxer's punch. Then, as if to replenish the protein, the knife is brought out for maximum impact. It's a painful metaphor, but in reality it's a deadly knife. At this point, the author's creative decibel is at its peak.
And then, suddenly, Eliza's time came. No, it's not Dolittle. Black American poet Rachel Eliza Griffith was discovered unexpectedly during the PEN American World Voices Festival. The author mainly talks briefly about his curation of events. Then, a fascinating encounter with her, and a careless “sliding door” accident. Rushdie expends enough ink and heart to place Eliza in a perfect portrayal, almost ethereal, while drawing liberally from his other writings. It also explores privacy, a “valueless quality” in the age of social media. The Rushdies vowed to live an intimate life unknown to civilized society, at least as wishful thinking.
From here, the storytelling moves into the nuances of family, which, according to Edmund Leach, is “the source of our discontent.” In his private life, Rushdie generously references his alcoholic father and the impact his antics had on love and freedom. This appears in multiple sections, usually without any provocation, and suggests a larger emotional massacre. Perhaps the opposite narrative, his sensitivity towards his sons Milan and Zafar, is both a camouflage and a salvation. Not only his biological family, but even Eliza's clan seems to be attached to him as karmic glue.
From here, the book is on the verge of freefall, but definitely not because of sabotage. Although the author's detailed recovery from the tragedy is of real value to his family, its literary significance is rather questionable. What's quite quirky is that it's always connected to Pantone's multi-shade knives and brandishers. He talks about his rehabilitation of mind and body in a happy conspiracy, referring to the first incident after leaving his parents' home and going to London, and the second after the fatwa. The latter deeply regrets not the actions, but the harmful reactions of people such as Jimmy Carter, Germaine Greer, Hugh Trevor Roper, and Richard Littlejohn.as well as toxic hostility from countries closer to home, from Iran and India.
Unlike the author, the story never fully recovers, although there are some charming and thought-provoking cameos. For example, his fictional encounter with Mr. A is a fertile canvas for Rushdie to unleash his most powerful worldview. A frantic attempt to figure out why Rushdie felt “dishonest” and crack the terror code without a resume. Regarding religion, he touts his support for the mosques at the 9/11 site and his sympathy for Kashmiri Muslims, with black and white promoting neutrality and objectivity. India appears unexpectedly in multiple episodes, but it is clear that his current temperament is not suited to his disordered appetite. References to the killing of Americans by Americans seek to balance the general view without exonerating the usual suspects.
He speaks most honestly about death and how ideas never die. Ovid's poems, Mandelstam, and Lorca's works survived the oppression of the poet Ovid and the suffering of Stalin and Franco. The assassination attempt of Naguib Mahfouz (Children of Gebelawi) is a fascinating parallel. “Pure Gravy Sauce” (Raymond)
The book ends, just as it begins, in the carefree yet uneasy calm of Chautauqua. Eliza is with him when he performs the encore on August 12, an act of liberation from the captivity of trauma. Not only here, but also elsewhere, the personality of his wife is faithfully captured, a gift from fate to become his soul partner. Perhaps blatantly perfect, maybe that's the truth. For the masters of fiction, edgy facts must be overshadowed by acceptable romance, and there are many such examples. As Victory City prepares to launch, a sense of peace finally prevails. Although his right eye is permanently missing, his gaze is firm and clear, reminiscent of the cricketer Pataudi.
The Knife is a masterful exposition of thought drama and word drama, enjoying borderless access to the world of creativity. But it's not a typical Test match knock, instead it's a T20 rain shower. It's fun, that's for sure. It may be moving. As long as no one criticizes it.
Book: Knife: Meditation after attempted murder
author: salman rushdie
the publisher: penguin random house
320 pages, 699 rupees
The author is an autonomous brand consultant and writer.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproduction of this content without permission is prohibited.