Banned Books – Taslima Nasrin

Taslima’s Banned Books

”Come what may, I will continue my fight for equality and justice without any compromise until my death. Come what may, I will never be silenced.”

Several of Taslima’s books have been banned, both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal.

The following books in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have been banned. Therefore, people in that people’s republic are not allowed to read these books. It was banned in Bangladesh, even in India it has been partly censored. The book is available in this site, Now, wherever you are you can read the entirely uncensored version of the book.

1. Lajja (Shame), 1993

Lajja is banned by the Government of Bangladesh

2. Amar Meyebela (My girlhood), 1999

Banned by the Government of Bangladesh

3.Utal Hawa (Gusty Wind), 2002
Utal Hawa is banned by the Government of Bangladesh

4. Ko (Speak up), 2003
Ko is banned by the High Court of Bangladesh.

5. Dwikhandito, 2003
The book was banned by the ‘Communist’ Government of West Bengal of India on the charges of hurting religious feelings of the people. The book was also banned by the High Court of West Bengal.

6. Sei Sob Ondhokar, 2004
The fourth part of the autobiography was banned on the 20th of February, one day before Language Day, a big national day for Bengali language and literature.
No one protested the ban, according to several news sources:

Another Taslima Book Banned Daily Star, 20 February 2004
Book banned at behest of Islamic bigots

Taslima’s other books are not so easy to find in the bookshops in Bangladesh. The once best-selling author’s works are now taboo in her own country.

Taslima, who is against all censorship anywhere, has chosen an inspiring solution. On 16 December 2003 (appropriately the anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971) she has put Dwikhandito in Bengali as well as Amar Meyebela. Amar Meyebela in Bengali on the worldwide web for everyone to read, whether they live in a country that does not respect freedom of expression or in a country that does.

Latest News : High Court lifted the ban on Dwikhandito in September 2005. The book would not be available on the net.
Taslima’s Reaction after Dwikhandito ban (Bengali)
Indian Communist party defends the banning of the book
Communists statement for banning the book

Vajira, who is also a painter, poet and lyricist, has previously come into conflict with the Sinhala Buddhist hierarchy over his artistic work. The Peoples Alliance government has also banned one of his songs from state radio broadcasts. The song, which calls for freedom of artistic expression, is about Taslima Nasrin, the exiled Bangladeshi writer whose award-winning book has been banned in Bangladesh and in Sri Lanka. Muslim fundamentalists in Bangladesh have issued a fatwa or death sentence against Nasrin.

Sri-Lanka Story

Click on the following regarding the harm of censorship
Censorship Myths and Imagined Harms
Condemns Censorship

Facts:

Taslima’s columns have been constantly censored by the editors of the newspapers.
Taslima’s books are censored by the publishers.
Taslima is a taboo in many countries.
Taslima is blacklisted in media that controlled by the Governments and the conservatives.
Taslima is blacklisted by the politicians who use religion to get votes from the Muslims.
Taslima herself is banned in Bangladesh. She is prevented by the Government to enter her own country, because she expressed her views that are different from the views of the fanatics.
(Most of the ) Publishers are afraid to publish her books. Book sellers are afraid to sell her books. Supporters are afraid to support her publicly. Secularists are afraid to defend her when she is attacked by the religious fundamentalists.
Her books have been pirated. Ninety percent publishers do not pay any royalty to the author.