Read the following statements and answer the question:
Assertion (A): The Moor's Last Sigh is widely praised for its layered storytelling, combining historical context with magical realism to portray themes of Indian identity and political dynamics.
Reason (R): The book received the Booker Prize in recognition of its unique narrative style and rich cultural commentary.
Which of the following is correct?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. A is true, but R is false.
Assertion (A): The Moor's Last Sigh is widely praised for its layered storytelling, combining historical context with magical realism to portray themes of Indian identity and political dynamics.
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Status: True. The novel, like much of Rushdie's work, is celebrated for its postmodern style, utilizing magical realism (e.g., the protagonist aging twice as fast) to explore themes of hybridity, communal strife, and the troubled history of modern India, particularly Bombay's political scene.
Reason (R): The book received the Booker Prize in recognition of its unique narrative style and rich cultural commentary.
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Status: False. The Moor's Last Sigh was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1995, but it did not win. It did, however, win the Whitbread Novel of the Year Award (1995) and the European Union's Aristeion Prize (1996). Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children (1981) is the novel that won the Booker Prize.
Therefore, the Assertion is correct, but the Reason provided for its success (winning the Booker Prize) is incorrect.