So they're holding the India Today Conclave 16 - 17 March -- theme: 'Ideate Debate Celebrate The Asian Century' ('ideate' ? seriously ?) -- and among those invited is Salman Rushdie, whose talk is titled: I am What I am and That's All That I am.
As you may recall, Rushdie was also recently invited to the Jaipur Literature Festival but then stayed away -- because of all sorts of threats (some real, some not) and protests; see, for example, one of my previous mentions. So now he's headed back to India -- and of course it's way too much to hope for that he'd actually be welcomed by one and all and that those who take issue with him and his writing would simply engage in debate with him about these matters. No, one-time cricket great and now political panderer Imran Khan -- scheduled to give the closing gala keynote address, Captain Pakistan: The Ultimate Test -- feels he can't even attend an event at which Rushdie is present. See, for example, Andrew Buncombe's report in The Independent, Imran Khan cancels Delhi appearance after learning Salman Rushdie was also invited (apparently Khan: "could not even think of participating in any programme that included Salman Rushdie, who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe").
Mind you, we're talking about an event at which Henry Kissinger is speaking -- he's giving the opening gala keynote address, The Making of an Asian Century -- and no one seems to have a problem with that .....
I say: the more the merrier, be they war-criminals or sportsmen-turned-politicians. Talk it up ! Talk it out ! Hell, ideate, if you have to (or know what that involves ...).
Clearly, Rushdie remains a hot-button issue -- but surely the fact that someone like Kissinger can show up to something like this and no one bats an eye, but Rushdie's presence is enough to lead a supposedly leading national statesman to scurry off claiming hurt and outrage is a sign of just how badly off the rails this debate has gone. (Which is why everyone should get together and talk things out, rather than posture .....)
As you may recall, Rushdie was also recently invited to the Jaipur Literature Festival but then stayed away -- because of all sorts of threats (some real, some not) and protests; see, for example, one of my previous mentions. So now he's headed back to India -- and of course it's way too much to hope for that he'd actually be welcomed by one and all and that those who take issue with him and his writing would simply engage in debate with him about these matters. No, one-time cricket great and now political panderer Imran Khan -- scheduled to give the closing gala keynote address, Captain Pakistan: The Ultimate Test -- feels he can't even attend an event at which Rushdie is present. See, for example, Andrew Buncombe's report in The Independent, Imran Khan cancels Delhi appearance after learning Salman Rushdie was also invited (apparently Khan: "could not even think of participating in any programme that included Salman Rushdie, who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe").
Mind you, we're talking about an event at which Henry Kissinger is speaking -- he's giving the opening gala keynote address, The Making of an Asian Century -- and no one seems to have a problem with that .....
I say: the more the merrier, be they war-criminals or sportsmen-turned-politicians. Talk it up ! Talk it out ! Hell, ideate, if you have to (or know what that involves ...).
Clearly, Rushdie remains a hot-button issue -- but surely the fact that someone like Kissinger can show up to something like this and no one bats an eye, but Rushdie's presence is enough to lead a supposedly leading national statesman to scurry off claiming hurt and outrage is a sign of just how badly off the rails this debate has gone. (Which is why everyone should get together and talk things out, rather than posture .....)