Salman Rushdie stabbed on stage at institution dedicated to exploring best in humanity
Photo credit Twitter The Chautauqua Institution
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, August 13: The Chautauqua Institution posted a statement “we ask for your prayers for Salman Rushdie and Henry Reese, and patience as we fully focus on coordinating and cooperating with police officials following a tragic incident at the Amphitheatre today”.
That was hours after Rushdie had been stabbed on stage, while the audience first believed that there was a stunt being enacted as a prelude to the main act of the day.
Multiple media reports afterwards claimed that Rushdie had been stabbed in the neck for about 20 seconds by an attacker Hadi Matar, 24.
For decades, Rushdie lived, first in hiding and afterwards guarded by the police in the UK, while he made few appearances in the literary circle. He’s one of most celebrated contemporary writers in the U.K., where he has been decorated with several titles.
The Chautauqua Institution in the U.S. states that it’s dedicated to explore the best in the humanity.
On Friday, the institution became a place where the worst in the humanity struck an author whose book ‘The Satanic Verses’ invited the wrath of the Iranian religious leaders, who issued fatwa for his death, while in subsequent years the bounty has been scaled up.
“We are a community of artistes, educators, thinkers, faith leaders and friends dedicated to exploring the best in the humanity,” The Chautauqua Institution tells visitors in its introduction.
Wisdom will be gleaned, states the institution, which is sought after by the professionals of the liberal arts.
“Memories will be made. Life will be enriched. Positive change is your charge,” adds the institution.
Henry Reese, 73, is a co-founder of the institution. He too was stabbed on face, stated multiple media reports, who added that the event moderator has been discharged from the hospital.
Rushdie is stated to be still being attended by the doctors.
The Chautauqua Institution spread over 750-acre claims to give residences to the persecuted writers.
It hosts interfaith lecture series, which has so far been held on topics such as “the spirituality of human rights”, “the future of being”, “the ethical foundations of a functioning democracy”, “America’s global conscience”, and others.
The institution also offers the people to stay at its sprawling facilities for vacations. It lies in the rural corner of New York to offer seclusion to writers and artistes, building on a tradition spanning over a century.
On Friday, 2500 people were in the audience to listen to Rushdie.
The institution claims to have lodging facilities where door aren’t locked, while visitors aren’t checked.
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