Salman Rushdie: A Literary Icon Celebrated on His 78th Birthday

In November 2014, Columbia University hosted a screening of Vishal Bhardwaj’s *Haider*, captivating over 2,000 students. Following the film, a discussion led by *Haider* writer Basharat Peer, a Columbia alumnus, took place. The esteemed author Salman Rushdie, also of Kashmiri descent, was the guest of honor. A personal anecdote reveals Rushdie’s graciousness: when contacted by a parent whose daughter was in the audience, Rushdie publicly acknowledged the daughter during the Q&A session. Rushdie later shared his positive impressions of *Haider*, praising its adaptation of Hamlet and the performance of Tabu, which he felt held the film together. He also noted his amusement at the inclusion of characters named Salman in the film.