“Midnight’s Children” by Salman Rushdie – The Birth of Freedom

Though we like to believe that humanity has become relatively civilized during the twentieth century, there are many instances of immoral and uncivilized actions perpetrated by first-world countries, such as England’s desire to maintain its dominion over India, one it achieved through brute force. 

Fortunately, it seems as that eventually, in some cases, good does prevail over evil, as it did in August 15, 1947 when India finally obtained its independence. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie is a humorous and yet eye-opening look at the events which transpired in the next seventy years, through the story of Saleem Sinai, a child who was born at exactly midnight, when India gained its independence.

The curious part about the story is that Saleem’s life mirrors that of India in every aspect… or is it the other way around? His health reflects that of his country, his actions are mirrored by the decisions politicians make, and in some cases, his life seems to be a literal re-enactment of the country’s history. 

However, what is even more interesting is the fact that Saleem’s fate, being born on midnight during such an important moment, granted him with certain telepathic powers, allowing him to form links with the other thousand children who were born at the same moment as him.

From what I understood of the novel and its story, there are basically two plotlines running parallel to each other. The first one is about the life of Saleem, his family, and the adventures he gets into over the course of multiple decades. The second one is about India itself and is a bit more akin to a history lesson. To put it in other words, Rushdie used Saleem as a vessel to pour his heart out and say what he always wanted to, at least in regards to his country. 

If you’re reading for story and not social commentary, I’m positive that those of you who enjoy family sagas will have a blast with this one. It paints an unforgettable portrait of India, its people and what they went through while still being captivating and entertaining; it’s safe to say it’s one of the best family sagas out there.

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Ahmed Salman Rushdie Personal site Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-British essayist and novelist, and as such it shouldn't come as a surprise that many of his stories take place on the Indian subcontinent. His famous 1981 book, Midnight's Children, earned him the Booker Prize of the same year. It also ought to be mentioned that his 1988 book, The Satanic Verses, became the epicenter of a huge controversy and even a threat to his life.