Shashi Tharoor remarks Salman Rushdie as the 'greatest living Indian writer' who is overdue for a Nobel Prize in Literature for his novel 'Victory City' which encapsulates his fabulous recreation of the history of the Vijayanagar Empire. It is based on the medieval city of Hampi, a ruined site in Karnataka. He regards his novel as 'magnificent and magical'. He praises at the creation through a 'magical-realist lens, brilliantly written as always, full of the verve and brio of a writer at the height of his powers.'

Styled as a translation of an ancient epic, the novel is a tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence only to continue for centuries.

The book ends with the sentence 'Words are the only victors.' But the wielder of these words is a victory too and the novel is a triumph actually. Now, the Nobel Prize for Literature should not be overdue to this greatest living Indian writer'.

Both of them have shared stages at various literary events. There are many controversies surrounding Rushdie's work, Tharoor continued to remain a persistent supporter throughout their long relationship. Tharoor regards him as 'one of the most articulate and sophisticated writers in India.' Tharoor also admits the influence of Rushdie's writing in his own writing career and has always defended Rushdie's right to free expression in the face of controversy.

Rushdie who faced death threats for years after writing 'The Satanic Verses' was stabbed by a young man in New York in August last year. Although he survived the injury, he lost one eye and the use of one hand.

Rushdie won the coveted Booker Prize in 1981 for 'Midnights Children'. This novel also won the Booker of Bookers and the Best of Booker in 1993 and 2008 respectively. He is an author both into an Indian Kashmiri family just before India's independence. Educated in Mumbai before moving to England. He was a copywriter when he turned out to be a full-time writer.

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Reference:

• thefederal.com
• news18.com