Nasreen, Taslima

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Taslima Nasreen/ Nasrin (25 August 1962 - )

Taslima Nasreen, who also uses the spelling Nasrin, was born in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. She is an outspoken writer and radical feminist.

Shabnam Nadiya, writing about Nasreen in Woman Alone, describes Nasreen's having been sexually molested at the age of six and how she has been fighting for women's rights ever since, as shown in detail by her website.

On 12 Nov 1999, as a delegate of the NGO "International Humanist and Ethical Union" (IHEU), Nasrin took the floor during Commission V of UNESCO's General Conference, outlining her stand against religious fundamentalism, concluding,

  • Fundamentalism is an ideology that diverts people from the path of natural development of consciousness and undermines their personal rights. Fundamentalists do not believe in individualism, liberty of personal choice, or plurality of thought. Moreover, as they are believers in a particular faith, they believe only in propagating their own ideas as autocrats generally do . They do not encourage or entertain free debate, they deny others the right to express their own views freely, and they cannot tolerate anything which they perceive as going against their faith.
  • I believe in fundamental rights of human beings to express themselves orally or in their writings; in equal rights for women in every sphere of life; and in constructing a society in which everybody gets a fair deal. We all should work for it. Media is helpful for spreading the ideas of human rights. And for media to work, the state has to be secular, the religious laws has to be abolished to create uniform civil code in which women get equalities. Education, of course secular education is important for women to get the knowledge about their rights. Religious education and politics based on religion must be banned to save the mankind. As they are not banned in my country, and the country is not secular, I, as a writer and journalist, once worked in media, was prevented to express my ideas and thoughts. It is impossible to have coexistence of religion and freedom of expression."

Taslima has been severely punished for the crimes the Muslim fundamentalists committed against her in Bangladesh and in India. She has been living in exile since 1994. In her exile life she has been spreading her ideas of secular humanism, free thoughts, equality for women, and human rights by publishing, lecturing, and engaging herself in the movements. She dreams of going back to Bangladesh or West Bengal to her roots, but finds she is condemned to life as an outsider. Her mission is to help in the fight for the emancipation of women.

Contents

Personal Background

Rajab Ali, M.D., Taslima's father, was a well-known physician who worked as a professor of Forensic Medicine in Myemsingh Medical College and also in Sir Salimullah Medical College in Bangladesh. According to Nasreen, he had modern scientific outlook and rational logical mind. He encouraged her to be a physician, a rationalist and an independent person who would be able to live her life with dignity and honour. Of her mother, Edul Wara, Nasreen has said, "She was an extraordinary person for her kindness and honesty. Even though she was a devout Muslim, she supported me all her life."

Nasreen has two brothers and one younger sister. After high school in 1976 (SSC) and pre-university course (HSC) in 1978, she studied medicine at the Mymensingh Medical College and graduated in 1984 securing MBBS degree. She worked as a gynaecologist and later as an anesthesiologist in different public hospitals. The government confiscated her passport and asked her to quit writing if she hoped to keep her job as a medical doctor. She was thus forced to quit her job.

Nasreen, becoming a best-selling author, started a revolution for women's rights and freedom in Bengali society through her writings. Though brought up in a conservative society of Bangladesh, she grew up with an independent mind and became a free thinker. Women are oppressed because of tradition, religion, culture, and customs, she wrote, criticizing all religions including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam for their treatment on women. That made the Islamic fundamentalists and the male chauvanists furious. They had country wide campaign <ref>[ http://taslimanasrin.com/tn_opera_about.htmlAnti Taslima Campaign]</ref>against her. Muslim fundamentalists issued fatwa and set a price on her head.<ref>Taslima Nasrin:Bangladesh</ref> They demanded her execution by hanging.<ref>[http://ibnlive.in.com/news/taget-taslima-no-room-for-critics-in-islam/46563-3.html?xmlTarget Taslima: No room for critics in Islam</ref> The government banned her book and filed case against her on the charges of hurting religious feelings of people for her ideas that the religious scriptures are out of time and out of place and the uniform civil code based on equality is a necessity.A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued and she was forced to go into hiding. After 2 months of terrible hiding she was granted bail and was forced to leave her country.<ref>[ http://www.sawnet.org/books/authors.php?Nasrin+Taslima Taslima Nasrin]</ref> Taslima's mother was severly ill and Taslima was not allowed to return home to see her ailing mother. When Taslima's father was in death-bed, she was prevented to go to Bangladesh to be with her father in his last days. She had no other alternative but to live in exile in Western Europe and North America for 10 years. As the door of Bangladesh was closed for her by corrupt and pro-fundamentalist governement, she wished to live other part of Bengal. She had to wait for 6 years (1994-1999) to get permission to visit India. She moved to India and settled in Kolkata, West Bengal in 2004. She received Islamic death threat <ref>Save Taslima Nasrin from Islamic death fatwa in India</ref> even in India. She was attacked<ref>[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/sep2007/nasr-s25.shtmlBengali writer, Taslima Nasreen assaulted by mob led by Indian legislators</ref> by Muslim fundamentalists in Hyderabad in 2007 <ref>Taslima roughed up in Hyderabad</ref>and after a violent protest against her stay in India. As a result it was the Indian government that forced Taslima to live under house arrest<ref>Taslima Nasrin</ref> and then forced her to leave India,<ref>[ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7108880.stm Taslima Nasreen: Controvrsy's child]</ref> her adopted country.<ref>Statement on Taslima Nasreen's departure from India</ref> She is currently working as a research scholar at New York University. Her dream is to return to her country.<ref>A memory of home</ref>. She travelled extensively, experienced a lot. She pledged her body for posthumous medical use to Gana Darpan, Kolkata based NGO in 2005.<ref>[ http://news.indiainfo.com/2005/03/07/0703taslima.htmlwriter Taslima pledges body to Indian NGO]</ref>

Poet, columnist, novelist

Taslima sparked off a revolution for women's rights and freedom in Bengali society through her writings. Her criticism of Islam infuriated religious fundamentalists and male chauvinists who organized a country-wide campaign against her.<ref>Anti Taslima Campaign</ref> A section of Muslim fundamentalists issued a fatwa and set a price on her head.<ref>Taslima Nasrin:Bangladesh</ref> They demanded her execution by hanging.<ref>Target Taslima: No room for critics in Islam</ref> The government banned her bookTemplate:Which? and charged her with hurting religious feelings. A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued and she was forced to go into hiding. After two months of hiding she was granted bail by the High Court. She immediately left the country to avoid further trouble in August 1994.<ref>Taslima Nasrin</ref> She could not return home since her passport expired and Bangladdesh Missions abroad declined to issue a new passport. Even when Taslima's mother was severely ill she was not allowed to return home to see her ailing mother.<ref>Ignoring threats to life, Taslima wants to see her dying mother</ref> When Taslima's father was in death-bed in 2002, she could not to go to Bangladesh to be with her father in his last days for want of a passport.

She had no other alternative but to live in exile in the West for 10 years. As the door of Bangladesh was closed for her by corrupt and pro-fundamentalist government, she wished to live other part of Bengal. She had to wait for 6 years (1994-1999) to get permission to visit India. She did not waste a moment when she got residential permit in 2004,she just moved to India and settled in Kolkata, West Bengal. She received Islamic death threat <ref>Save Taslima Nasrin from Islamic death fatwa in India</ref> even in India. She was attacked<ref>Bengali writer, Taslima Nasreen assaulted by mob led by Indian legislators</ref> by Muslim fundamentalists in Hyderabad in 2007 <ref>Taslima roughed up in Hyderabad</ref> and after a violent protest against her stay in India. As a result it was the Indian government that forced Taslima to live under house arrest<ref>Taslima Nasrin</ref> and then forced her to leave India,<ref>[ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7108880.stm Taslima Nasreen: Controvrsy's child]</ref> her adopted country.<ref>Statement on Taslima Nasreen's departure from India</ref>

Works

Taslima started writing poems when she was thirteen years old. While still at college, she published and edited a literary magazine titled SeNjuti (1978 - 1983), published from Mymensingh. SeNjuti’’ means light in the dark. Taslima was involved in late 70's little magazine movement in Bengal. Her poems were published in West Bengal of India as well as Bangldesh. Her first anthology of poems was published in 1986. Her second book of poems 'Banished within and without'(1989) was a big success. She succeeded in attracting much wider readership when she started writing columns in late 80's. In 1992 she received Ananda Puroshker, a prestigious literary award of West Bengal, India for her Nirbachito Kolam (Selected Columns).

She received Ananda Puroshker for the second time for her memoir My girlhood in 2000. My girlhood was published in English in 2002 and many leading newspapers including Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Nation, Village Voice, USA today, Globe and Mail published good reviews of the book. Los Angeles Times and Globe and Mail selected My girlhood as one of the best non-fiction of 2002.<ref>Taslima's book reviews</ref>

Taslima wrote 33 books of poetry, essays, novels, short stories and memoir. Some of her books have been translated into 20 different languages. True secularists, humanists, who believe in freedom of expression and rights of women are supporters of Taslima. She has become a symbol of freedom of expression.<ref>condemned to like as an outsider</ref>

Banned books

In 1993, the government of Bangladesh banned <ref>[ http://taslimanasrin.com/tn_bannedbooks.htmlTaslima's banned books]</ref> her novdlla novella Lajja (Shame) Amar Meyebela (My girlhood), the 1st volume of her memoir was banned by the government in 1999 for wreckless comments against Islam and prophet Mohammad.<ref>Bangladesh bans new Taslima book</ref> Utal Hawa( Gusty Wind), the 2nd part of her memoir was banned by the governemnt in 2002.<ref>Bangladesh bans third Taslima book</ref> Ka( Speak up),the 3rd part of her memoir was banned by the Bangladesh High Court in 2003. Sei sob ondhokar( Those dark days), the 4th part of her memoir was banned by the Bangladesh government in 2004.<ref>Bangladesh bans another book by Taslima</ref> She was accused of hurting religious feelings of the people. There was no movement in Bangladesh against banning of her books. <ref>Book banned at behest of Islamic bigots</ref> Taslima's freedom of expression was constantly been challemged by governmental authorities of Bangladesh and India. West Bengal( India) government banned Dwikhandito( the life divided),Taslima's 3rd part of autobiography in 2003<ref>Bengal bans Taslima's book</ref> on charges of hurting religious feelings of the people. The people who believe in freedom of expression criticised the government to ban the book.<ref> West Bengal Government assailed for banning Taslima's book</ref> A human rights organization filed case against the banning and the Kolkata High Court lifted the ban on Dwikhandito in 2005.

Attacks

Since she started writing on women's rights, she was attacked by the religionists, male chauvanists and mysogynists. In 1992, a smash Taslima committee was formed to attack Taslima.(citation?) They had demonstrations in the national book fair. Taslima was physically attacked by a fanatic mob in 93's book fair. In 1993 Taslima has faced several death threats from Islamic fundamentalists. Habibur Rahman from his organization called Soldiers of Muhammad offered<ref>[1]</ref> 50,000 taka to kill Taslima in 1993. <ref>Anti Taslima Campaign</ref> Taslima's book was publicly burned in Bangladesh by the people who oppose plurality of thoughts. A suicidal squad was created to kill Taslima. Processions and demonstrations against Taslima was common in 90-94's Bangladesh. 300,000 Muslim fundamentalists <ref>Taslima Nasreen: 'I will not be silenced'</ref> came to the street to demand her execution by hanging. there was a processions with snakes threatening to release 100,000 poisonous snakes <ref>[ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=96825&sectioncode=26She who makes holy men fume]</ref> in the city of Dhaka if the government immediately do not execute Taslima. In 2000, Muslim fundamentalists group in Mumbai threatened Taslima to burn her alive if she comes to Mumbai.But Taslima, with the support of local secular organisation, went to Mumbai and released her book and spoke in a seminar supporting freedom of expression.<ref>[ http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1706/17060430.htmFrom Bangladesh, with courage]</ref> In 2004, Syed Noorur Rehaman Barkati, the Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque, admitted offering money to anyone who "blackened" Taslima's face."<ref>Cleric quizzed over author threat, BBC News, June 27, 2006</ref> In 2005, her attempt to read an anti-war poem titled "America" to a large Bengali crowd attending the North American Bengali Conference at Madison Square Garden resulted in her being booed off the stage.<ref>Yahoo News India November 27</ref> In March 2007, the "All India Ittehad Millat Council" of Bareilly U.P. offered 500,000 rupees for her beheading. The group's president, Tauqir Raza Khan, said the only way the bounty would be lifted was if Nasreen "apologises, burns her books and leaves." In August 9, 2007, Taslima was attacked at the Hyderabad Press Club in the state of Andhra Pradesh.<ref name="reuters1">Template:Cite news</ref> She was there for the launch of her novel Revenge in the Telugu language. In that book launch, she talked Three MLAs of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party were among the 100 male protesters who physically attacked her for what they claim her criticism of Islam<ref name="reuters1"/><ref name="bbc-mlas"/> Akbaruddin Owaisi, also an MLA and MIM floor leader in the Assembly, justified the attacks by saying, "We are not bothered about our MLA status. We are Muslims first. And it's our responsibility to test those who have said anything against Islam in whichever way possible."<ref name="ndtv">Template:Cite news</ref> Ahmad Pasha Quadri, one of the lawmakers, said: "Our protest is against Taslima Nasreen because of her writings ridiculing Islam." Taslima, said the attack was barbaric but pledged she would not be cowed.<ref name="bbc-mlas">Template:Cite news</ref> In August 17, 2007, in the city of Kolkata, a week after Muslim fundamentalists assaulted Taslima in Hyderabad, Muslim leaders revived an old fatwa against her telling her to leave the country and offering an unlimited amount of money to anybody who would kill her.<ref>[ http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=5d562b17-64dc-4a90-8396-7cfcaea2d568&ParentID=ea13ac8f-a3d8-45a2-9eba-b56c9b73e87b&&Headline=Kolkata's+clerics+threaten+TaslimaFatwa offers unlimited money to kill Taslima]</ref> And in November 21, Kolkata witnessed a violent protest against Taslima by neo-Jihadis.A protest, called by the militant Islamist "All India Minority Forum", against Taslima turned Kolkata into a scene of flaming vehicles and scampering school children on forcing the deployment of army in the city.<ref>[ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7105277.stm:Army deployed after Calcutta riot]</ref> A call for a road-blockade went out of control as thousands of frenzied people from central Kolkata's Muslim-inhabited areas unleashed a free-for-all for hours. Taslima was forced to move from Kolkata to Jaipur, a day after violent protests rocked Kolkata over her stay in India. She was then shifted to New Delhi the following day.<ref>Bangladeshi writer goes into hiding</ref> The secular government instead of taking action against the fundamentalists, took action against Taslima. Taslima was forced to live under house arrest and then was deported from India.

Life in exile

In her exile life, she has been spreading her ideas of secular humanism, free thoughts, equality for women, and human rights by publishing, lecturing, and engaging herself in the movements. She gave lectures defending human rights several times in European Parliament, <ref>Global Progressive forum</ref><ref>Past Sakharov winners speak out</ref><ref>Sakharov Network</ref> French national assembly <ref> Intervention de Mme Taslima Nasreen</ref> French Foreign Ministry,Belgium Parliament,UNESCO<ref>Discours de Taslima Nasrin</ref>, UN NGO summit, and also spoke at the seminars in different countries organised by Norwegian, Swedish, Swiss, German, Australian, Spanish, Italian, French, Icelandic, Canadian government. She spoke at universities like Oxford<ref>Times Higher Education</ref>, Harvard, Yale, Edinburgh, Sorbonne, Indiana<ref>Indiana University</ref>, Graz, Uppsala, Barcelona, University College of Dublin, Trinity College and many others.

Life under house-arrest in India

Taslima was attacked by the Muslim fundamentalists in Hyderabad on August 9,2007. After the attack Taslima was forced to live under house arrest at her Kolkata apartment by the Government of West Bengal. Muslim fundamentalists came on the street of Kolkata demanding Taslima's deportation on 21st of November 2007, she was taken out of the state of West Bengal. Eventually she was taken to New Delhi where government kept her in a safe house in an undisclosed location. Literally she was under house arrest.<ref>The Telegraph - Calcutta: Frontpage</ref> She was selected for the Simone de Beauvoir feminist award in recognition of her writing on women's rights <ref>Top French honour for Taslima Nasreen- Hindustan Times</ref>. The government of India prevented Sarkozy to give her the award while he was in India. Rather, Sarkozy was advised to invite Taslima to Paris. However she declined to go to Paris to receive the award, fearing that she would not be allowed to re-enter India.<ref>[ http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=214371&usrsess=1 Taslima says ‘no’ to Sarkozy’s invitation for French honour] </ref> She explained that 'I don’t want to leave India at this stage and would rather fight for my freedom here.’ <ref>Front Page</ref> Taslima was under terrible mental pressure to leave India. Taslima got food and necessities, but she did not have freedom even to step out of where she was being confined.<ref>I’ve lost all creative freedom: Taslima </ref> When ill, Taslima was denied to see medical doctor for security reason. She was supported by many eminient personalities but nobody was able to free her from house arrest or prevent her deportation. After staying under house arrest for nearly eight months, she was forced to leave India on 19th of March, 2008. The people who believe in freedom of expression in India considered Taslima's departure was a body blow to the country's secular credentials.<ref>Goodbye Taslima, Shame on India</ref> Taslima wrote a book of poems called bondini (prisoner) with her feelings of being prisoned for no fault of her.

Books, Music, Plays,Flims

Many writers wrote books on Taslima. There were theater-plays based on her stories or based on her life even in the West. Jhumur, a TV serial based on her novel 'revenge' was a huge success in Bengal.<ref>A rebel with a cause</ref> Now, a new mega-tv-serial based on a novel written by Taslima, and produced by Channel 8 in Kolkata stopped to be telecasted after the incident took place against Taslima in the city of Kolkata. Bengali singers like Fakir Alamgir, Samina Nabi, Rakhi Sen sang her songs. Swedish singer Magoria sang ( Goddess in you, Taslima)<ref>Goddess in you Taslima</ref> and a famous French band Zebda sang song ( Dont worry, Taslima) on Taslima <ref>Dont worry,Taslima.</ref> Steve Lacy, the MacArthur genius, Jazz soprano saxophonist composed Taslima's poems and a jam opera was performed in Europe and North America. <ref>The Cry </ref> Steve was very enthusiastic about his jam opera, The Cry. <ref>Steve Lacy, making the words swing</ref>.

Role of some writers and intellectuals for and against Taslima

Taslima was attacked by the writers and intellectuals in both Bangladesh and West Bengal. Because of her book Ko Syed Shamsul Haq, a renowned poet and novelist in Bangladesh sued against Taslima in 2003<ref>Defamation suit against Taslima</ref>. One poet in West Bengal also followed his path in West Bengal<ref>a shocker from taslima</ref>. Nearly 4 million dollar defamation lawsuits were filed against Taslima for writing 'Dwikhandita' or 'Ko' both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal by her fellow writers. She was criticised mostly by the male writers in both Bengal. They publicly showed their anger and hatred against her. Sunil Ganguli, a famous male writer with 24 other intellectuals <ref>Fishing for trouble</ref> pressered the West Bengal government to ban Taslima's book in 2003. There was hate campaign against Taslima even among the writers, because she wrote about her life story mentioning she had affair with some men. And because some men happened to be known,so Taslima had to answer why she wrote about known people without their permission and some commented that she did it to earn fame. Taslima defended hersself against all the allegations. She wrote why she dared not to hide her sexual relations<ref>homeless everywhere</ref>, she said that she wrote HER life-story, not others. Not all writers are enemies of Taslima. She was respected and had valued relationship with topmost Bengali writers and intellectuals.Eminent writer Annada Shankar Ray,writer,philosopher and radical humanist Sib Narayan Ray,writer and philosopher Amlan dutta <ref>Taslima's visit to India</ref> supported her<ref>eminent intellectuals at Kolkata press club</ref>.Recently she was supported and defended by personalities such as author Mahasweta Devi, theater director Bibhas chakrabarty, poet Joy Goswami, artist Prakash karmakar, Paritosh Sen. <ref>Literati rise late to Taslima defence</ref> Writer Arundhati Roy, theater personality Girish Karnad, and others defender her when she was under house arrest in Delhi in 2007.<ref> Intellectuals Demand Indian Citizenship To Taslima Nasreen</ref> In Bangladesh Showkat Osman(writer), Shamsur Rahman(poet), Kabir Chaudhury (writer and philosopher)<ref>Prof Kabir Chawdhury</ref> also supported her strongly.

Activities for good cause

Taslima created Edulwara scholarship in her mother's name to give scholarship (50,000-100,000 taka) to twenty brilliant female-students of 7th to 10th grade who come from economically poor family in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. She started an organisation called Dharmamukta Manab-bai mancha(Humanist organisation free from religion) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The criteria of a member was being atheist and secularist from Muslim community. The aim of the organistion was to make people enlightened, to spread secular education, to fight for women's rights, to fight for uniform civil code based on equality. Taslima has been donating money to many feminist, humanist and cultural organisations in Bangladesh and India.

Awards

Taslima has received a number of international awards in recognition of her uncompromising demand for freedom of expression. Awards and Honours given to her include the following:

Books by Taslima Nasrin

Poetry

  • Shikore Bipul Khudha (Hunger in the Roots), 1986
  • Nirbashito Bahire Ontore (Banished Without and Within), 1989
  • Amar Kichu Jay Ashe Ne (I Couldn’t Care Less), 1990
  • Atole Ontorin (Captive In the Abyss), 1991
  • Balikar Gollachut (Game of the Girls), 1992
  • Behula Eka Bhashiyechilo Bhela (Behula Floated the Raft Alone), 1993
  • Ay Kosto Jhepe, Jibon Debo Mepe (Pain Come Roaring Down, I’ll Measure Out My Life for You), 1994
  • Nirbashito Narir Kobita (Poems From Exile), 1996
  • Jolpodyo (Waterlilies), 2000
  • Khali Khali Lage (Feeling Empty), 2004
  • Kicchukhan Thako (Stay For A While), 2005
  • Bhalobaso? Cchai baso (It's your love! or a heap of trash!), 2007
  • Bondini (Prisoner), 2008

Essay collections

  • Nirbachito column (Selected Columns), 1990
  • Jabo na Keno? jabo (I will not go; why should I?), 1991
  • Noshto meyer noshto goddo (Fallen prose of a fallen girl), 1992
  • ChoTo choTo dukkho kotha (Tale of trivial sorrows), 1994
  • Narir Kono Desh Nei (Women have no country), 2007

Novels

  • Oporpokkho (The Opponent) 1992
  • Shodh (Revenge), 1992 (ISBN 978-8188575053)
  • Nimontron (Invitation) 1993
  • Phera (Return) 1993
  • Lajja (Shame), 1993 (ISBN 978-0140240511)
  • Bhromor Koio Gia (Tell Him The Secret) 1994
  • Forashi Premik (French Lover) 2002
  • Shorom (Shame Again) 2009

Short Story

  • Dukkhoboty meye (Sad girls) 1994
  • Minu 2007

Autobiography

  • Amar Meyebel (My Girlhood), 1999 (ISBN 978-1586420512)
  • Utal Hawa (Wild Wind), 2002
  • Ka (book)|Ka (Speak Up), 2003
  • Dwikhondito (Split-up in Two), 2003
  • Sei Sob Andhokar (All those darkness), 2004
  • Ami Bhalo Nei, Tumi Bhalo Theko Priyo Desh (I am not okay, but you stay well my beloved homeland), 2006.

(See

an article in Encyclopedia Britannica.
a news article in Observer demanding that Taslima apologize for what she is doing.
an article in which she is threatened by fundamentalists.
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