OUR SHAME AND DISGRACE
One cannot agree more with noted film director, Mrinal Sen, who is not
only one of the most outstanding symbols of the new wave film movement
in the country, but also a conscientious personality never hesitent to
defend any progressive cause. Referring to the deafening silence of the
intellectuals and literary figures in West Bengal on the fatwa issued
by Islamic fundamentalists against the talented young Bangladeshi
writer, Taslima Nasreen, he has openly confessed: “It is our Lajja (Shame).”
Taslima has lately earned the ire of the religious bigots of her
country for having portrayed—in her recently published Bengali novel,
Lajja (Shame)—the upsurge of communalism in Bangladesh that is making
it exceedingly difficult for the minorities to continue to reside
there. The book is an eye-opener not only because it reveals the
strength the communal elements lately acquired in Bangladesh,
overcoming the secular resistance built on the foundations of
linguistic nationalism nourished by the rich traditions of Bengali
language and literature; but also because it brings into sharp focus
the similarity of the offensives mounted by the communal elements
against minorities in both Bangladesh and India and how these
regressive forces on the opposite sides of the spectrum complement and
sustain each other.
That the communal extremists have announced a reward of 50,000
Bangladeshi Taka to anyone executing Taslima is in itself a matter of
serious concern providing yet another manifestation of the fanatics’
inability to countenance any expression of dissent. But what is
astonishing is that the secular intelligentsia of this country and--
West Bengal in particular—did not deem it their duty to condemn such a
move and stand by their Bangladeshi sister whose only crime has been to
uphold the very secular values and principles India has all along
espoused. One would have also expected them to demand adequate security
to Taslima from the Bangladesh Government which has demonstratively
betrayed its reluctance to do so. But their indifference and apathy
in this regard – as justifiably underlined by Mrinal Sen –exposed a
behavioural pattern that cannot be condoned under any circumstances.
(One begins of wonder if Taslima’s effective unmasking of the
anti-women attitude of our male-dominated society lies at the root of
this behaviour.)
The urgency of expressing wholehearted solidarity with Taslima is
heightened by the ultimatum given to carry out the fatwa within 15
days. The fatwa was issued by some of the maulavis on Septamber 23 at a
public rally in Sylhet. Besides offering the 50,000 Bangladeshi Taka
reward for anyone carrying out the directive, those maulavi made it
clear that if the fatwa was not enforced within 15 days they would
organise an anti-Taslima movement. Calling for confiscation of all her
published writings, they have also announced a half-day hartal on
October 9 to raise their campaign to a higher pitch. All these
constitute a blatant attack on freedom of expression besides an assault
in secular values. Hence the question of democracy is inextricably
linked to the whole issue.
Editorial,
Mainstream, 2 October
1993