Salman Rushdie announced knighthood

June 16: Author of “Mid night children” and booker prize winner Salman Rushdie was conferred knighthood by Queen Elizabeth today.

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The announcement was made by the Buckingham Palace on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday.

Besides being a booker prize winner and literary giant, Rushdie is also well known as the person who wrote Satanic Verses, thus infuriating the wrath of Muslims all over the world. Iranian revolution leader ordered his assassination, which is yet to be turned down, officially, by Iranian administration.

In his statement Rushdie reportedly expressed happiness by saying, “I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honor, and am very grateful that my work has been recognized in this way.”

Besides Rushdie, CNN reporter Christiane Amanpour, a KGB double agent and Cricket star Ian Botham were also on the list of honors marking Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday.

Rushdie is one of the most prominent novelists of the late 20th century and is known for his unique mix of history with magical realism. His latest novel was about the insurgency in Kashmir region of Indian state entitled ‘Shalimar- The Clown’, for which he was also nominated for Man Booker Prize.

Rushdie went into hiding after Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a 1989 fatwa, religious edict, ordering Muslims to kill the author because "The Satanic Verses" insulted Islam. In this book the author has criticized the basic beliefs in Islam.