In 1992, three years after the fatwa triggered by Ayatollah Khomeini, Salman Rushdie sued the Himachal Pradesh High Court in Shimla, claiming that the house belonged to his family. L’Villa Ane — called locally Purani Kothi — is a residential building in Solan, a hill town about 45 km south of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh state.

At that time, India was frankly hostile to him. The proof: the first country to ban his controversial book, Satanic Verse, published in 1988. The building served, between 1993 and 1996, as the official residence of District Judge Solan. An Arun Sharma is his first and last resident.

Finally, following legal proceedings brought by Rushdie’s lawyers, former Deputy Commissioner Srikant Badli issued a transfer of ownership order to Rushdie in 1997.

Author residency project

With the title deed found, Salman Rushdie decided, three years later, to review the family building and its 2000 m2 of land. The author explains to India Outlook : ” My dad gave me this chalet for my 21st birthday. I then took my son there as he approached his 21st birthday. It felt like I was fulfilling a promise made to my father.Since the August 12 attacks, Solan’s villa has been rediscovered by the Indian media.

His grandfather, Mohammed Uldin, had bought the house – built in 1927, but according to official records, in 1940. Salman’s father, Anees Ahmed Rushdie, a Cambridge-educated lawyer turned businessman, owned the property in 1969. Salman will get to know India only Bombay with his family, became part of several novels.

In the mid-1960s, the Rushdies moved to Pakistan, while Salman studied in England. Govind Ram, janitor and caretaker, recounts the rediscovery of his home: “His son Zafar is with him, as well as his lawyer, Vijay T. Shankardass. He asks people to install lights all over the villa. He kept going in and out. He was very happy and toured the plantation several times.»

“Rushdie wants to make this villa a home for writersadded Rakesh Kanwar, secretary of language, arts and culture in the Himachal Pradesh government.

Abandoned building

The garden is now hiding in poorly trimmed grass and bushes. Several broken windows and cracks in the roof caused water seepage, causing mold stains on the walls.

If Ram laments the state of the house, he explains:I was first paid a salary of 1700 rupees per month. The last installment came in 2015. After that, I received nothing.In addition, illegal construction in the vicinity now hides the old panorama of the building.

“We know this property needs a lot of repair and restoration worksaid Anirudh Shankardass, son of Rushdie’s late lawyer, Vijay T. Shankardass. Before adding:It is planned to put it in order because Anees Villa has significant historical and emotional appeal.»

READ: New interest inSatan’s Verses

Last August, Salman Rushdie was stabbed ten times in the neck and stomach as he prepared to speak at a conference in New York. Hospitalized, placed on an artificial respirator, his health condition has since shown encouraging signs of improvement.

The identity of the attacker was also revealed: Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old American of Lebanese origin. His Facebook account contains many pictures of the ayatollah behind the million-dollar ransom for Rushdie’s head. He pleaded not guilty and said,surprisedthat Rushdie survived the attack…

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