Salman Rushdie honoured at PEN America Gala: first in-person appearance since stabbing

Salman Rushdie made an emotional and unexpected return to public life on May 18, attending the annual gala of Poets, Essayists, Novelists (PEN) America by giving the event’s final speech as he accepted the PEN Centenary Courage Award

Salman Rushdie made an emotional and unexpected return to public life on May 18, attending the annual gala of Poets, Essayists, Novelists (PEN) America, a non-profit organisation of writers focused on freedom of expression through literature, by giving the event’s final speech as he accepted a special prize, the PEN Centenary Courage Award, just nine months being after being stabbed repeatedly and hospitalised.

“It’s nice to be back — as opposed to not being back, which was also a possibility. I’m glad the dice rolled this way,” Mr. Rushdie, 75, told hundreds gathered at the American Museum of Natural History, where he received a standing ovation.

It was his first in-person appearance at a public event since he was attacked last August while on stage at a literary festival in Western New York.

Mr. Rushdie, whose attendance had not been announced beforehand, spoke briefly, and dedicated some of his remarks to those who came to his help at the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit education and retreat centre. He cited a fellow attendee, Henry Reese of the City of Asylum project in Pittsburgh, for tackling the assailant and thanked audience members who also stepped in.

“I accept this award, therefore, on behalf of all those who came to my rescue. I was the target that day, but they were the heroes. The courage that day, was all theirs, and I thank them for saving my life,” he said.

“And I have one last thing to add. It’s this: Terror must not terrorize us. Violence must not deter us. La lutte continue. La lutta continua. The struggle goes on.”

Also Read | ‘I’m lucky’, says Salman Rushdie on surviving ‘colossal attack’ in New York