Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British and American novelist known for his work that often combines magic realism with historical fiction. His narratives primarily explore connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations, typically set on the Indian subcontinent.

Rushdie's second novel, Midnight's Children (1981), won the Booker Prize in 1981 and was celebrated as "the best novel of all winners" on both its 25th and 40th anniversaries. His fourth novel, The Satanic Verses (1988), sparked significant controversy, leading to multiple assassination attempts and death threats due to its perceived irreverent depiction of Muhammad. A fatwa was issued against him by Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of Iran, and the book was banned in 20 countries. In 2022, Rushdie survived a stabbing attack in New York, resulting in the loss of his right eye and damage to his liver and hands.

In 1983, Rushdie was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was later recognized as a Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France in 1999. He was knighted in 2007 for his contributions to literature. The Times ranked him 13th on its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. Since 2000, he has resided in the United States, holding positions such as Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University and teaching at Emory University. He has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in April 2023.

Rushdie's personal life has also been in the spotlight, particularly his five marriages and four divorces, notably with television personality and activist Padma Lakshmi.