Lit Fest: Will Rushdie’s video link suffer blackout?

Looks like Salman Rushdie fans are in for a disappointment. The controversial author was scheduled to address the Jaipur Literature Festival 2012 live via video conferencing on Tuesday. But sources claim that Rajasthan Government might play spoil sport and not allow the event to take place.

Earlier, the government also did not allow the Booker prize winning author to visit the festival as it feared law and order situation owing to Rushdie’s controversial status. Rushdie, who was disappointed at not being able to attend the festival, was hopeful that he would be able to video conference. But now, that too seems unlikely.

Speaking to a news channel, Jaipur Police Commissioner BL Soni said, “We don’t have have any information about any video conferencing with Salman Rushdie. We will have to legally examine it.”

Sources at the Rajasthan Home Ministry said that they would need to examine the theme and the topic of the video first to ensure that no reference to the controversial novel ‘Satanic Verses’ is made in the conference.

However, the festival organisers claimed that everything was on track and Rushdie would be conferencing live.

Jaipur Literature Festival organiser Sanjoy Roy said, “I have got no such information, will wait to say it in writing. We are in talks with the Police Commissioner.”

There has been huge amount of controversy and debate over Rushdie’s visit to the Pink City for the lit fest. Numerous Islamic groups protested against his visit and the author was asked to stay away by the Rajasthan government owing to law and order situation. Rushdie has had a fatwa issued against him in 1998 for his book ‘Satanic Verses’.

Rushdie to address Jaipur Lit Fest via video conference

Latest reports coming from Jaipur Literature Festival confirm that Salman Rushdie would hold a video conference tomorrow at 3: 45 pm.

The Booker prize winner has finally decided to address the Jaipur Literature Festival via video link straight from New York.

The organisers of the lit fest have asked the author to back off following protests from Islamist groups.

Anticipating trouble, the Rajasthan government asked the organizers to request Rushdie to call of his visit to India.

Sources state that the Rajasthan government felt that Rushdie’s visit would be a security threat for the state especially after certain radical groups raised objection over his visit.

However, now the organizers have confirmed that the writer will address a video conference to clear all air.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Home Ministry sources said that the Literature Festival organisers have not contacted them on Rushdie using video conferencing to address the event. The sources said that the Festival organiser will have to get permission for allowing Rushdie to use the video link.

Sources also confirmed that the state government would give their nod only after Rushdie assures that he would not use any reference from his book `The Satanic Verses`.

Earlier, four authors who read excerpts from Rusdhie`s `The Satanic Verses` left the Jaipur Literature Festival amidst speculation that they may be arrested if they stayed on.

Oprah Winfrey feels enriched and blessed in India

The front lawns of Diggi Palace literally came alive on Day 3 of Jaipur Literary Festival 2012 when America’s most loved talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey made a grand entry in a jam packed house. Looking resplendent in an Indian ensemble, Oprah’s Namaste drew huge applause. In one of the most anticipated sessions of the literary festival, Oprah shared her views on life, work and of course, her maiden Indian visit.

Apparently, what struck Oprah the most in India was a sense of chaos underlined with calm of love. For Oprah, being in incredible India is like being in a video game. “There is calmness underneath. There is no rage, there is genuine respect for elders,” she said.

Speaking about her India visit, Oprah said, “I came to India with an open mind. In India, you are in so much diversity; humanity is expanded in a way. I feel expanded, opened and enriched in India.”

Oprah is the real success story of a girl who was born into poverty and overcame all hardships by sheer belief in self. A self-made woman, Oprah gave to society what she got and is touted as the most influential woman in America.

Well, it was literary fest and talking about her love for literature, Oprah called Toni Morrison her favourite living author. In fact, Oprah’s Book Club was her love for literature that found way on her television show.

Oprah prefers reading a good book rather than tweeting and believes in US President Barack Obama. She feels that it will be a good thing if he remains in office.

And yes, Oprah would love to visit India again!

Author Hari Kunzru: `The Satanic Verses` is a book, not a bomb

Having left the Jaipur Literature Festival following a police complaint over him reading passages from The Satanic Verses, author Hari Kunzru Sunday said he did not believe he had broken the law by reading from a downloaded segment of the book and had no intention to hurt the feelings of anybody.

In a statement posted on his website, Kunzru apologised if he had unintentionally hurt feelings or appeared to have caused disrespect to a religion.

He said the incident brought the Jaipur Police Commissioner to question them briefly and in him getting a legal advice that he should leave India immediately, as otherwise he held the risk of being arrested. Kunzru left Jaipur early on Saturday morning, and left India the same day.

He said he was perturbed at the accusation of MP Asaduddin Owaisi that he was “Islam-bashing under the guise of liberalism”. “I would like to reiterate that in taking this action I believed (and continue to believe) that I was not breaking the law, and had no interest in causing gratuitous offense. I apologise unreservedly to anyone who feels I have disrespected his or her faith. Our intention was not to offend anyone’s religious sensibilities, but to give a voice to a writer who had been silenced by a death threat. Reading from another one of his books would have been meaningless. The Satanic Verses was the cause of the trouble, so The Satanic Verses it would have to be,” he said.

“We did not choose passages which have been construed as blasphemous by Muslim opponents of the book. This would have been pointless, as these passages have overshadowed the rest of the content of the novel, which concerns the relationship between faith and doubt, and contains much that has nothing to do with religion whatsoever. We wanted to demystify the book. It is, after all, just a book. Not a bomb. Not a knife or a gun,” he wrote.

He also said that he believed that the furore around the visit of Rushdie, who has often visited India without a fuss, was a “manufactured controversy” this time and was not unconnected with the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The eruption, he said, was not spontaneous but an example of “manipulation of religious sentiment for political ends”.

“We knew this little-read and much-burned book was banned in India, but it was our understanding that this meant it was a crime to publish, sell, or possess a copy. We knew it would be considered provocative to quote from it, but did not believe it was illegal,” he said.

He said he was extremely angry over what had happened to Rushdie and felt it was important to show support for an author was has often misrepresented and caricatured by people who know little or nothing about his work.

British novelist Salman Rushdie cancelled his trip to India

Controversial author Salman Rushdie has confirmed that he would not be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival. The festival which kicked off today in the capital city of Rajasthan, was to host the noted author on two days during the festival.

In a statement, Rushdie said that he had got intelligence reports from Mumbai and Rajasthan police that paid assassins were on their way to Jaipur.

Festival organisers read out the statement by the Booker Prize winning author, which said, "For several days I have made no public comments on this issue at the request of local authorities hoping that they would put in place arrangements to allow me to come and speak.

"But I have been informed by intelligence sources in Maharashtra and Rajasthan that paid assassins from Mumbai underworld might be on their way to eliminate me. While I have doubts about these intelligence inputs, it would be irresponsible for me to come and endanger the life of fellow authors and others," the 64-year-old author said.

Ever since the news of Rushdie visit to the lit fest broke out, several Islamic groups have been protesting against his visit. Fearing law and order situation in the state, Rajasthan Chief Minister asked the organizers of the festival to ask Rushdie to cancel his trip to India.

Even though, the events in which Rushdie was to participate were cancelled, there were rumours that he would be attending the writer’s ball.

A disappointed Rushdie tweeted, ""Very sad not to be at jaipur. I was told bombay mafia don issued weapons to 2 hitmen to 'eliminate' me. Will do video link instead. Damn.(sic)"

Oprah Winfrey meets the Bachchans

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan must be having several chauffers at his disposal, but he decided to drive international talk show queen Oprah Winfrey himself to a party organised in her honour here Monday night.

Upon her arrival in the country`s entertainment capital, Winfrey went to visit the Bachchan residence Jalsa to meet Abhishek and Aishwarya`s two month-old daughter, nicknamed Beti B.

After spending over an hour at the house, the 57-year-old was seen in the car with Abhishek in the passenger seat, and Aishwarya and Winfrey in the rear seat.

Big B, who is often spotted behind the wheels, was overwhelmed to meet her, and more than happy to drive her around to socialite Parmeshwar Godrej`s residence, where the star-studded bash was organised.

"The gracious Oprah Winfrey visits our home, to meet us and bless the baby…warm hearted, endearing…drive her to party in her honour. And Oprah in sari…looking lovely!!" tweeted Big B post the party.

Winfrey is on her maiden visit to India. She is scheduled to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival, and is primarily here to shoot for her new show "Next Chapter"