Monday, July 13, 2026

Loss of one eye upsets me every day: Salman Rushdie 

The author said his eyes “looked swollen and it was kinda hanging out of my face like a soft-boil egg.”

• April 15, 2024
Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie [Photo Credit: BBC]

Indian-British author, Salman Rushdie, has opened up about the ongoing emotional struggle he faces every day following the loss of one eye.

The traumatic attack that made Mr Rushdie lose one eye happened during a speaking engagement at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York in August 2022.

In a recent interview with the BBC on April 15, Rushdie revealed that the profound loss continues to affect him on a daily basis. “Losing one eye upsets me every day, he said.

The author said his eyes “looked swollen and it was kinda hanging out of my face like a soft-boil egg.”

With his voice laden with emotions, he said, “And I’m blind.”

Mr Rushdie said he’s using his new  book, ‘knife’ (mediations after an attempted murder), as a way of fighting back 

Recalling how the assailant attacked him in the tragic incident that happened almost 2 years ago, the 76-year-old author said, “I couldn’t have fought him; I couldn’t have run away from him.”

Mr Rushdie said he discovered the need for heightened caution while walking down the stairs, crossing streets, and even performing seemingly simple tasks like pouring water into a glass. However, he considers himself fortunate to have escaped without any brain damage.

He indicated that his book is dedicated to “the man and women who saved my life.”

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