Rushdie prefers gardening to politics

The celebrated author says politics has been thrust upon him.

Celebrated author Salman Rushdie says that he is increasingly losing interest in politics and would rather prefer gardening.

HT Image

Speaking at this year's Hay Festival, Rushdie dwelt on the influences behind his novels such as Midnight's Children, Shame and Shalimar the Crown, but when asked about politics, he said he was now more interested in gardening.

"Since politics was thrust upon me I have become increasingly uninterested in politics. I have a desire to stay at home and cultivate my garden," he said.

Rushdie has been the subject of much gossip in the literary sections of newspapers, particularly after his marriage to Indian origin model-actress Padma Lakshmi.

"I have been in newspapers too much but always for reasons other than the only things I think are interesting about me.

"If I leave anything behind (after his death) it will be my books -- nothing else I have ever done is of any real consequence," he added.