In the heart of New York, a literary tribute unfolded this Friday to honor Salman Rushdie. He had been gravely injured a week earlier, and the gathering was organized by PEN America alongside the Big Apple Public Library. The event was staged on the library steps, a historic building just blocks from Times Square, with Rushdie joining via a live feed from the hospital where he recuperated from the stabbing.
Prominent writers, including Paul Auster, Gay Talese, Jeff Eugenides, Siri Hustvedt, and more than a dozen colleagues, took the floor. Many of them departed from the prepared program, sharing readings from Rushdie’s work and recounting experiences and memories linked to the author of The Satanic Verses, who faced a death sentence and fatwa in 1989.
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The voices at the tribute traced the deeper values behind Rushdie’s prolific body of work. They cited ideas like diverse perspectives, cultural blending, the essential right to free expression and a free press, and a celebration of life itself as central to his influence.
A dozen PEN supporters carried symbolic phrases attributed to Rushdie, including lines like Art is not entertainment; it is revolution at best and If we are unsure of our freedom, we are not free. These phrases underscored the belief that art and journalism play a critical role in challenging power and defending liberty.
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A warm moment came when Tina Brown spoke, praising Rushdie for choosing to write and to insist on press freedom even in difficult times. She read passages highlighting the importance of journalism, its skepticism, and its constant questioning of power.
The most awaited participant, dressed in black and with a solemn demeanor, was Paul Auster. The writer had recently endured heartbreaking losses, and his presence lent a somber, reflective tone to the evening. The event conveyed a sense that language can push boundaries, expand worlds, and foster empathy across differences.
Siri Hustvedt, an American writer with Norwegian roots, celebrated the diverse lineage that Rushdie embodies. Born in India, educated in England, and living in the United States, Rushdie’s life illustrated the richness of multiple heritages and the strength that comes from embracing many roots rather than denying them.
Another expatriate in New York, Colum McCann, spoke about standing in solidarity with Rushdie, drawing a parallel to the global response after the Paris attack on Charlie Hebdo. The moment echoed the call We are Salman, urging collective support for the writer and what he represents.
Rushdie’s courage was highlighted by colleagues who emphasized that the fight for freedom of expression does not hinge on a single voice but on a chorus of writers, artists, and readers. The idea that creative voice should not be throttled was a recurring theme, with the belief that the act of writing remains a vital form of resistance and a necessary form of human expression.
Yet the evening was not all gravity. A lighter moment arrived when Roya Hakakian, a New York exile and Iranian poet, read from Rushdie’s children’s book, Aaron and the Sea of Stories. In a world often dominated by despair, the tale of a storyteller named Rasheed carried a message of hope. Aaron, a character who embarks on adventures with a bond to Rushdie’s own spirit, signaled that stories travel beyond borders and time, carrying the potential to rekindle creativity even in challenging moments.
As the city absorbed the tribute, the event stood as a reminder of literature’s power to unite diverse voices in the face of adversity. The night offered a portrait of a global literary community committed to defending freedom of thought, the right to read, and the enduring value of books as bridges across cultures.