Salman Rushdie bags Booker prize

{image-Salman Rushdie_10072008.jpg news.oneindia.in}London, Jul 10: Indian born writer Salman Rushdie won the "Best of the Booker" prize on Thursday, July 10 to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the world's most prestigious literary awards.

"Midnight's Children" won the Booker Prize in 1981, and the Indian-born writer was hot favourite to take the special award decided by the public in an online poll. The 61-year-old, whose 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses" outraged many Muslims and prompted death threats against him, also won the 25th anniversary Booker prize in 1993. "Marvellous news!" said Rushdie, who was in the United States on a book tour and could not accept his trophy in London.

"I'm absolutely delighted and would like to thank all those readers around the world who voted for Midnight's Children," he added in a statement.

OneIndia News