God Of Big Things

I suspect Khomeini's repugnant fatwa has much to do with the crushing responsibility this extraordinarily gifted writer carries. Having himself become a part of the war on global terror, having himself become an artist who stands as a symbol against religious tyranny, having himself become an international spokesperson highlighting the perils of Islam bin-Laden style, having himself become a strong and surprising advocate of George Bush's Iraq misadventure, Salman Rushdie feels he cannot, for instance, write a small love story populated with small characters located in small Srinagar. That would be against the persona has gratuitously acquired.

The disappointment of once again losing out on the Booker must surely convince the Bombay-born author to try and forget his international celebrity status. After all, Midnight's Children may have been a fat book but its vision was limited to India. Writers like R.K. Narayan and filmmakers like Satyajit Ray have successfully proved that small can be beautiful. Salman Rushdie, who has produced three indifferent novels consecutively, might like to think small. He may then produce the masterpiece his fans have been eagerly waiting for.