West Bengal- A Coward State
Posted : November 30, 2007 at 12:54 pm [IST]
I had once tried to go through Taslima’s famous novel ‘Lajja’. I was in my village for few days and I had nothing to read. My cousin Alok had given me the book that was a Hindi translation of her book in Bengali. Somehow I didn’t find that interesting. I couldn’t ascertain if that due to a bad translation or that was because of her style. Over the years, Taslima has become famous rather controversial for wrong reasons. Because of fear of her life, she left her own country and lived for some years abroad. She then came back to Kolkata and started living there.
Few months ago, I saw her on TV getting assaulted in Hyderabad when she was attending a literary function. Was that not cowardice an act against a woman whom Indian culture claims to respect? Could those cowards do the same for someone who is really damaging the social fabrics of the country and still roam around freely? I got shocked to find that happening in an Indian city. I felt pity when I saw Taslima with fear clearly written on her face while getting driven in a taxi to the hotel in Rajasthan, West Bengal exiled her from Kolkata and asked her to move to Rajasthan because of the pressure from the minority community that demanded it. I got amazed and started questioning its rationality. How can any civilized society disown her? Bengalis were never like that. After all, Taslima is a writer. And how rightly she claims, “You may dislike my writings and my contentions, but you can’t deny me the space to write and lead a normal life free of fear and persecution”? Where were the intellectuals of West Bengal, when Taslima had to leave Kolkata? How could Buddha, himself a man of letters, order or agree for such an action? Has CPM become so much dependent on the vote bank of the few in the minority? What a shame for the people and women of the state for whom I had a lot of respect? Can we be proud with this action in this largest democracy of the world? Can Bengali be proud of this action of their government?
And let us look at the irresponsible media that provides all information such as the flight number with seat details, destination, and address of the hotel where she stayed. Don’t the reporter and the publisher understand its consequences that can harm her?
For the first time perhaps BJP, RSS, and Modi took a right stand to invite her and provide all the security. I wish they kept on taking such decisions and permit Fida Hussain to come back to his homeland. If UK could shelter and provide security to Rusdie, why can’t West Bengal do that for Taslima?
It is good that the government of India has finally decided to provide shelter and security to Taslima. Let this nation of one billion be not afraid of taking the right and rational humane decisions. And West Bengal must invite her back, as she finds Kolkata more homely. She can’t be an outcast.
- Indra
Category: Indian politics |
2 Comments »
from Patnadaily.com:
While Nasrin’s novel is not extreme, the reaction to it is. Islamic fundamentalists have offered a large cash reward to anybody who murders her. It is sad to see Bengal government to behave in a communal way for vote bank to support fundamentalist Muslims demand to throw Nasrin out of the state. CPM calls BJP communal, however the deeds of CPM is worst, CPM is not only communal but also they have sided with terrorist mind set of the Muslims.
I like Nasrin. I like her honesty, intense intelligence and courage, all of which come through in this book. She has made comments about abolishing Quranic law because of its discrimination of women and lack of human rights. Nasrin is entitled to debate the Quran for reforms and she is really not out of line if she says that Muslim women are suffering. She has right to sensible freedom of speech.
Bangladesh is a forgotten country. However, Hindu genocide happened there according to the book. Inside Bangladesh controversial, informed voices (especially women’s) are rarely heard. The country and this world needs people like Nasrin. This world needs bold and honest media and government. Muslim community need to be tolerant to different opinions of their people and should be open to reforms and debates. People should read her book, or similar books like Lajja, whether or not their views are the same. It’s intelligent to do so. - Ashok Nagar - Dec. 3, 2007
I agree with Indra about the harassment being perpetrated by Muslim men against the author Nasreen in country like India.
What is even more surprising is that these so called secular CPI-M coward politicians are buckling down to accommodate demands of fundamentalist Muslims to throw Nasreen out of Kolkata. In a way these CPI-M have proved that they are really not secular, but vote bank suckers like many other parties.
I agree, these coward CPI-M politicians (like CM of Bengal Buddha- what a contrast in his name) have lost the resolve to fight terrorism, and for vote bank wanting to cater to fundamentalist Muslim men, and their demand. It is time for Hindu Bengalis to make it clear to Buddha that CPI-M won’t get Hindu Bengalis vote, and they should also go out and protest against CPI-M’s terrorist-friendly acts in ousting Nasreen. - Ronkin Nasa - Dec. 3, 2007
[Edited]
I would like to clear the mind of readers about “Hindu Bengalis” vote. According to popular opinion, majority of them are simply “Bengali” and “Secular”. Taslima Nasreen is also a Bengali, but not secular because of his unholistic writing entitled “Lajja”. It took years to ’secularists of Kolkata’ to understand that she (Taslima) is not a secular. And she has no right to live in Kolkata. The smart Government at Kolkata understood the same in one lecture, and ordered Taslima to leave. Boys (Comrades) who captured Nandigram, later hoisted the flag of secularism in Kolkata after the departure of Nasreen. Thus silence prevailed in Kolkata with no protest march, what happened to Mamta Banerjee? That is why there is no such “Hindu Bengalis vote”.
At the same time silence prevailed in the secular castles of Lalu, Mulayam, Karats, Yechuri, Naidu, Karuna, Pawar and Gowda as well as India’s most prestigious famous for being called Secular Universities. None of them are concerned for the dirty dancing organized by the section of secularists on the streets of Kolkata, converting the city of joy into the city of sorrow. - Sudhir Ranjan - Dec. 4, 2007
Posted by: Indra at December 5, 2007 @ 3:59 am
The CPI(M) & Naxals is a pack of cowering dogs who bend on their knees to please their ISI masters from Pakistan/Bangladesh. These cowards born on the soil of India have cross border loyalties.
Although India is bound to become a WORLD SUPER POWER but the CPI(M) & Naxals will try their best to prevent it as they have cross border loyalties.
HINDUS (we are 800 million & growing) have to wipe out this CPI(M)/Naxal menace as soon as possible to make India a military & economic superpower.
Posted by: Anish Khindri at September 7, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
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