Original language:
English Translated from: English
Authors: Rushdie, Salman
Translated by: Žalytė, Danguolė
ISBN: 9955-24-463-1
Published in: Vilnius
Published on: 2007
Publisher: Alma littera
„Shalimar the Clown“ – is psychological, historical novel, published in 2007. Mesmerizing story shifts to Kashmir territory, but at the same time covers worldwide space, creates a vivid historical context. A number of different, but fascinating characters embody different principles, beliefs and traditions. The main character is India – extramarital daughter of influential ambassador Maximilian Ophuls. After her father assassination, she hopes to find her mother and determines to take revenge on the murderer. Upon discovering the circumstances of the novel reveals two major tragedies.
First – Personal: Boonyi (India‘s mother) life story. Innocent love story began in the quiet Kashmir village of Pachigam. Boonyi, cute Hindi dancer originated from the Hindus family, and a calm and peaceful manner circus artist, Muslim Shalimar got married. The story of Shalimar the Clown and Boonyi recapitulates the tragedy on a personal level, each proceeding toward their respective dooms after Boonyi eats from the forbidden fruit of modernity and Shalimar the Clown becomes an Islamist terrorist by way of passage to the execution of his personal terrorist agenda. The central tragedy of the story is the transformation of Kashmir from a Garden of Eden populated with warm, humble, enchanting, and enchanted rural villagers, into a ravaged moonscape populated by cold-blooded, fanatic, malevolent marauders from Pakistan and India. The fate of the region is skillfully revealed by author.
The novel is filled with fury, anger, love and the hope of reconciliation. Salman Rushdie thoroughly delves into true roots of terrorism and extremism origins. The author raises the question of whether different cultures can live peacefully in the modern world. The interaction between Eastern and Western worlds is also highlighted.
Achmed Salman Rushdie (born 19 June 1947) – Kashmiri origin British writer, one of the most famous twentieth-century writers, one of the fellows of the Royal Society of Literature, a number of prestigious awards winner. Much of his fiction is set on the Indian subcontinent. Creating a multi-layered plot, which combines different cultures and worldviews, his works are concerned with the many connections, disruptions and migrations between East and West.