Salman Rushdie's Memorable Encounter at Columbia University

A Night to Remember at Columbia

In November 2014, on a Wednesday evening, Columbia University in New York hosted a screening of Vishal Bhardwaj's film Haider, captivating an audience of over 2,000 students.

Among them was my daughter.

The event featured an engaging and thorough interactive session led by Basharat Peer, the writer of Haider and a former Columbia student. Notably, the esteemed author Salman Rushdie was the guest of honor at this screening.

As a person of Kashmiri descent, Rushdie's presence added a personal touch. Filled with pride, I sent him a message saying, “Sir, my daughter is currently in your audience at Columbia.”

His immediate response was, “What’s her name?” I shared her name with him.

What transpired next felt surreal. From the stage, Mr. Rushdie called out, “Where is Lata Jha in the audience? Your father is asking about you,” he announced.

While Mr. Rushdie may not recall this moment, it remains etched in my memory, showcasing his kindness and artistry.

After the session, I was curious about his thoughts on Haider. Upon reaching out, Rushdie expressed, “I appreciated the film and felt it effectively used Hamlet to shed light on Kashmir.”

He was particularly impressed by Tabu's performance, stating, “Tabu’s portrayal is what anchors the film, and the incorporation of Shakespearean elements — the play within a play, the revenge tragedy, the ghost — is both elegant and impactful.”

Rushdie also found humor in the fact that two characters in the film share his name.

With a playful tone, he remarked, “I enjoyed that the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern characters are both named Salman, though I suspect it’s a nod to Salman Khan rather than me.”