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