Authors: Dr. Shafia Saleem
Abstract: Salman Rushdie occupies an unparalleled position in contemporary English literature for his innovative narrative techniques and profound engagement with the socio-political realities of the postcolonial world. His fiction transcends conventional storytelling by intertwining history, mythology, fantasy, and political discourse, thereby redefining the possibilities of the modern novel. This paper critically examines the major thematic concerns that permeate Rushdie's literary corpus, with particular emphasis on history, identity, migration, hybridity, religious discourse, memory, and the enduring quest for individual freedom. Through a close reading of selected novels, including Midnight's Children, Shame, The Satanic Verses, and The Moor's Last Sigh, the study argues that Rushdie transforms literature into a dynamic arena where historical realities and imaginative possibilities coexist. His works challenge monolithic narratives and celebrate the multiplicity of human experience, making him one of the most influential voices in postcolonial literature.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21022599
