The Buzz Around 'The Satanic Verses' Sparks a Surge in Sales in India

New Delhi, Jan 1 (NationPress) After the ban on Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses' was removed after 36 years, the intense enthusiasm of readers sent them rushing to bookstores in several cities to secure a physical edition of the provocative novel.

Among the few establishments offering Rushdie's fourth book in Delhi is the renowned Bahrisons Booksellers, alongside select others in cities like Pune. Various e-commerce platforms have also made this book available for purchase.

BooksWagon.com quickly acquired copies and listed the book for sale. Its founder, Shubham Jain, imported editions from the UK and US, and was pleasantly surprised by the "positive response" it garnered.

However, the process of obtaining these copies was not without challenges. Importing 'The Satanic Verses' proved to be a cumbersome task. "We had to navigate customs clearance and justify the need for importing this book," Jain explained.

With the ban now lifted, demand for the book has surged in India as many literary enthusiasts, academics, and intrigued readers seek to own a copy.

"There is a considerable buzz and excitement surrounding this book in India which is likely to lead to skyrocketing sales. Eventually, a stable group of readers, including loyal fans of the author and literary aficionados, will continue to seek it out," Jain remarked to IANS.

He is optimistic that 'The Satanic Verses' will receive a warm reception from academic and intellectual communities.

While the book may face criticism due to its sensitive material, Jain believes that it could surpass sales expectations, or at least mitigate any decline due to the Streisand effect—where attempts to censor it may enhance its appeal.

"Ultimately, the sale figures will also hinge on public and media reception, along with how booksellers and retailers promote it, which could influence whether sales rise, fall, or stabilize," Jain stated.

As 'The Satanic Verses' returns to Indian bookstores after over three decades following a ruling by a Delhi court, Islamic clerics persist in advocating for its ban. There are calls for the government to engage in discussions with relevant groups before making the book accessible.

'The Satanic Verses' was initially prohibited in India in 1988 under Rajiv Gandhi's administration due to its content being labeled blasphemous by various Muslim organizations.

The ban was lifted after the Delhi High Court, in November, concluded the procedures contesting the government's restrictions on the book's import and sale, citing the authorities' failure to provide necessary documentation. In the absence of relevant paperwork, the court "presumed that it does not exist."

Salman Rushdie is a distinguished Indian-born British and American novelist known for works such as 'Midnight's Children' (1981), 'Shame' (1983), 'The Jaguar Smile' (1987), 'The Satanic Verses' (1988), 'East, West' (1994), 'The Moor's Last Sigh' (1995), and 'Fury' (2001).

Rushdie has received numerous accolades, including the Booker Prize for 'Midnight's Children'.

In 2022, Rushdie survived an assassination attempt after being stabbed multiple times during a public lecture in New York. He has faced death threats since 1989, the year following the publication of 'The Satanic Verses'.

(Kavya Dubey can be contacted at kavya.d@ians.in)