A 1996 Commencement Speech

Salman Rushdie, India (1947)

Literal Comprehension: In the commencement speech titled 'A 1996 Commencement Speech,' Salman Rushdie addresses the theme of human rights and advises against yielding to falsehood and conspiracy. He recounts an incident involving Jean Kirkpatrick as a commencement speaker, where American students boycotted her speech in protest, emphasizing the importance of standing against injustice.

Rushdie reflects on his own experience at Cambridge University in 1968 when he was unjustly denied a degree due to false accusations. To receive the rightful degree, he had to humble himself and supplicate to the Vice-Chancellor. Recalling this moment, Rushdie expresses regret for his passive submission and compromise with injustice, highlighting the humiliation of having to beg for what rightfully belonged to him.

He imparts the lesson that injustice often forces individuals to plead for what is rightfully theirs. Rushdie encourages his students not to accept injustice, urging them not to surrender to inhumanity and falsehood in the pursuit of their rights. He commends Bard College for providing him refuge based on intellectual solidarity and opposition to injustice.

Rushdie advises defiance against even gods if they restrict thoughts, rights, freedom, and lives. He emphasizes the importance of being guided by one's best nature.

Interpretation: The writer may be trying to focus on the importance of justice, rights, freedom, and personal thoughts. In his speech, Rushdie suggests the students also not to accept injustice and not to surrender in front of inhumanity and stand up for our rights. He suggests defying even gods if they are injustice and if they limit our thoughts, rights, freedom, and lives. He also views that a person should always keep up his good thoughts and best natures for self-respect.

Critical thinking: Although his essay is interesting, suggestive, instructive and satirical, some ideas of the writer are doubtful. How can we defy gods in practice? Is it good to be sarcastic of the university from where we get graduation degree?

Assimilation: I am very much affected by this speech of Rushdie. It reminded me of my own past. I have also bowed down my head to the feet of injustice many times in the past to get what was rightfully mine. But this speech made me feel regret for what I have done. Is also inspired me not to accept any kind of domination, injustice, and inhumanity.