Son inspired Salman Rushdie to write new book for teens

LONDON - An intellectual delight is on its way for young fans of Salman Rushdie, as the Booker prize winner is set to release a new book for teenagers, which is inspired by his son Milan.

The book, ‘Luka and the Fire of Life’, is a companion volume to ‘Haroun and the Sea of Stories’, which he wrote exactly 20 years ago for Zafar, his son from first wife Clarissa Luard.

The current treat is a kind fatherly gesture to Milan, as he knew about Haroun and wanted his own book.

But given his fame, it is hard not to see ‘Luka’ also as a rebranding exercise by the 63-year-old writer- a deliberate step away from the big, ambitious, potentially prizewinning books towards something lighter, slighter and much more personal.

“The thing these books have in common is that the child has to rescue the parent, and I do think in some larger way, many parents would say that the experience of having children was a kind of salvation for them,” the Guardian quoted ‘The Midnight Children’ writer as saying.

In the book, the young hero must complete a dangerous journey and has all sorts of adventures on the way. In the novel, Luka’s father needs to be rescued from imminent death.

In real life, Rushdie was miserable after Lakshmi, his fourth wife, ended their marriage three years ago and his sons helped cheer him up.

“It’s very important to me to be a good father and I like to think I am. It’s the deepest emotion you have. My sons are the most rewarding thing in my life and I can’t imagine my life without them,” he added co-relating novel with his life.

He has brought up his sons to be global citizens.

‘Luka and the Fire of Life’ is, among other things, a kind of globalised mythology featuring deities from multiple continents.

The book is published by Jonathan Cape. (ANI)