Stories in families are colossally important. Every family has stories: some funny, some proud, some embarrassing, some shameful. Knowing them is proof of belonging to the family.

Rohinton Mistry's celebrated novel 'Such a Long Journey' was pulled off the syllabus of Mumbai University because local extremists objected to its content.

If Islam is to be reconciled with modernity, these voices must be encouraged until they swell into a roar.

The publishing of a book is a worldwide event. The attempt to suppress a book is a worldwide event.

I've been fascinated by Machiavelli since I was very young. I've always felt that he had a bad rap from history, and that he was actually a person quite unlike what we now think of as Machiavellian. He was a republican. He disliked totalitarian government.

Once you put a thought into the world, it can be disagreed with, but it can't be unthought.

I learned: the first lesson of my life: nobody can face the world with his eyes open all the time.