History is a messy business. Usually, it's written by the winners, the folks with the biggest swords and the longest memories. But in Salman Rushdie’s Victory City, history is literally whispered into existence. It's a weird, wild, and incredibly beautiful book that basically asks: what if an entire empire was just a story someone told?
Honestly, if you’ve followed Rushdie’s career, you know he’s no stranger to big ideas. But this one feels different. Released in early 2023, just months after the horrific attack on his life in Chautauqua, Victory City carries a weight that’s hard to ignore. It’s a 15th novel that acts as a defiant shout against anyone who thinks they can silence a voice with a blade. Words, as the book’s protagonist Pampa Kampana eventually realizes, are the only things that actually survive the fire.
The Woman Who Sowed an Empire
The story kicks off in 14th-century southern India. Pampa Kampana is just nine years old when she watches her mother walk into a funeral pyre after a senseless battle. It’s a brutal start. But then, things get magical. A goddess (also named Pampa) enters the girl’s body and gives her a mission: build a city where women aren’t just afterthoughts or sacrifices.
Pampa is handed a bag of magic seeds. She gives them to two cowherd brothers, Hukka and Bukka Sangama. They sow the seeds, and—poof—a city literally grows out of the ground. We’re talking palaces, temples, and thousands of people just appearing.
But here’s the kicker: these "new" people have no memories. They’re like blank hard drives. So, Pampa spends her nights wandering among them, whispering stories into their ears. She tells them who their parents were, what they dreamed about, and how they’re supposed to live. She creates their "history" out of thin air. It’s a brilliant metaphor for how national identities are often just manufactured narratives we all agree to believe in.
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Why Bisnaga Isn't Your Typical Fantasy World
You’ve probably heard of the real-life Vijayanagara Empire. That’s the historical backbone here. Rushdie calls his version "Bisnaga" because a Portuguese traveler (and Pampa’s lover) Domingo Nunes can't pronounce the local name.
Bisnaga starts as a sort of feminist utopia. Pampa wants a world where women have agency, where art is celebrated, and where different faiths can coexist. For a while, it works. But empires, like people, get greedy.
The book covers 250 years, and Pampa lives through all of them thanks to her divine "blessing" (which often feels more like a curse). She watches the city she birthed grow fat, arrogant, and eventually, bigoted. The religious zealots start gaining power. The "inclusive" vibe of the early days gets replaced by strict, narrow-minded rules.
Characters That Stick With You
- Pampa Kampana: The heart of the book. She’s a poet, a queen, and a mother who outlives her own children. She’s human, though—she makes mistakes, falls for the wrong guys, and sometimes loses sight of her own goals.
- Hukka and Bukka: The brothers who become the first kings. They’re based on the real founders of Vijayanagara, but Rushdie gives them a personality that feels grounded and, at times, a bit buffoonish.
- Vidyasagar: The religious antagonist. He represents everything Pampa hates—intolerance, patriarchy, and the use of faith as a weapon.
The "Prophetic" Nature of the Book
It’s impossible to read Victory City without thinking about what happened to Rushdie himself. In the novel, Pampa is eventually blinded by a vengeful king.
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Rushdie wrote these scenes before he was attacked and lost sight in one eye. That’s more than just a coincidence; it’s eerie. It turns the book into a living testament to the resilience of the artist. Even when Pampa is blind and old, hiding in a cave, she keeps writing. She writes down the "Victory and Defeat" (Jayaparajaya) of her city, seals it in a pot, and buries it.
She knows the buildings will crumble. She knows the gold will be looted. But she also knows that if someone finds her words in four hundred years, the city lives again.
What Most People Get Wrong About Victory City
Some critics tried to label this as "just another fantasy novel." That’s a mistake. While there are magic seeds and 247-year-old women, the book is a sharp political satire.
It’s about the India of today as much as it is about the India of the 1300s. Rushdie is taking aim at how modern leaders use religion to control people. He’s looking at how quickly a free society can slide into authoritarianism when people stop questioning the "official" story.
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Basically, it's a warning wrapped in a fairy tale.
Actionable Insights for Readers
If you’re planning to dive into Victory City, here’s how to get the most out of it:
- Don't get bogged down in the names. There are a lot of kings and descendants. Focus on Pampa’s journey and the evolution of the city itself. The "vibe" is more important than memorizing the family tree.
- Look for the "Whispers." Pay attention to the scenes where Pampa creates memories. It’s a masterclass in understanding how culture is formed.
- Read the ending carefully. The final sentence of the book is one of the most powerful things Rushdie has ever written. It sums up his entire philosophy on life and art.
- Pair it with a history search. Look up the ruins of Hampi. Seeing the real-world remains of the "Victory City" makes Pampa’s fictional struggle feel incredibly tangible.
Victory City isn't a light read, but it's a rewarding one. It’s a reminder that while kings and empires are temporary, the stories we tell about them—and about ourselves—are the only things that actually last.
To experience the world Rushdie built, start by exploring the real-life historical foundations of the Vijayanagara Empire or by picking up a copy of the novel to see how Pampa Kampana’s "whispers" reshape the past.