People's Democracy

On Taslima Nasreen’s Book

There is a widespread campaign in the country regarding Taslima Nasreen’s book being proscribed in West Bengal. It is being alleged that the prohibition of the book is an attack on literature and artistic freedom. It is nothing of the sort. The West Bengal secretary of the CPI(M), Anil Biswas, issued the following statement on February 9:

TASLIMA Nasreen, the writer from Bangladesh has written a number of books, most of them have been published from Kolkata. Her books are being sold, read widely in Kolkata without any hindrance. Last year her book “KA” (in Bengali) was published in Bangladesh. The original manuscript was edited by the publisher with the author’s consent before the publication itself. It was done to avoid controversies relating to religion. Even after that the book generated severe criticism in Bangladesh. It was alleged that a number of leading authors, poets and intellectuals have been denigrated in the book. The Bangladesh edition of the book was not meant for Indian market. Some authors in West Bengal protesting against the book alleging innuendos even moved the court.

The non-edited version of the same book was published in Kolkata with the title Dwikhondito. The book contained direct and derogatory comments on Prophet Muhammed apart from other things. It was not the criticism of any religion or religious practices as such but the provocative and insulting language used that shocked many rational persons too. The state government was approached by many individuals and organisations. The government decided to gather opinions from leading intellectuals. Only after receiving these opinions and judging the possible fall out at the ground level, the state government decided to stop the sale of the book. The issue is not of literary freedom, as is being posed by some intellectuals and writers, but of a deliberate attempt to malign a revered religious figure which could lead to communal tensions and peace and amity being disturbed. The state government was not concerned about the contentious views of the author about other literary figures. The decision is in conformity with the duty of any state government to maintain communal amity and stop any preaching of religious hatred. No other moral questions are associated with the decision.

Meanwhile, some religious clerics and organisations declared a so called fatwa against Taslima Nasreen. Sporadic demonstrations against her were also organised in some parts of the state. The state government took a firm stand against these activities and provided adequate security to the author when she reached Kolkata in January. The CPI(M), AIDWA and other left organisations have raised their voices against the fatwa. Taslima Nasreen attended many functions in Kolkata, particularly in book fair and freely aired all her views. It is a separate matter that many of her utterances have drawn flak from the intellectual community in the state.