Taslima on IBNLive chat: 'India is not a theocracy'

BOLD VIEWS: Taslima has been dogged by controversy from the day her book, Lajja, was published.

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Cyril: "If any religion allows the persecution of the people of different faiths, if any religion keeps women in slavery, if any religion keeps people in ignorance, then I can't accept that religion." Could you please make clear if you accept any religion or do you respect any religion?

Taslima Nasreen: I am a humanist free from religion.

Francis Vij, Phoenix,United States: There is no end point for good writings. We feel you are doing good in writing the good books. I remember the goldan words: "When a nation's young men are conservative, their funeral bell is already rang." Most of all the communities in Asia are always trying to crash the females. They won't agree the secular writings or the controversy words from the female. I am not blaming all the men. Only the people, those who are not educated or who don't know about the good writings. My question here is, recently you said that you are going to remove some controversial words from your book. I don't think anything is wrong in your books. It's the perception and the thought about the community. Everyone has to right to say this. Then why you have take such kind of bad decisions? Please continiously write good books. We are always welcoming you.

Taslima Nasreen:When a writer censors her writing on her own, it's one thing, it's quite a different matter when she is FORCED to censor her own creations...

Viswanath: Do you think political parties are using your name for the sake of gaining 'extra mileage'? What message would you give to the hard-core Islamic fundamentalists?

Taslima Nasreen: I am a writer. I don't want to be used for political purposes. My message is : ``India is not a theocracy. It's a democracy. They should respect plurality of thought and freedom of expression, which are the pillars of democracy."

Saurabh Prakash: Thus far you have been very brave in what you have done. Why did you give in to a government that requires you to compromise your position? While I can understand to some extent your desire to live in Bengal and in India, is it worth giving up what you stand for? Surely you would have got refuge in the US/England for the time being. A BJP Government would have given you refuge in India eventually. Even now, you would have got refuge in any BJP-ruled state. I know it is difficult living as a refugee, but that is your lot anyway. Why give up so much just to stay in Bengal? You are not even likely to get that. Even if you do, will you be safe there? The attitude of the government does not appear to inspire that confidence. I think you have already taken those important decisions that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. There is no escaping them. Even if you disown them completely, there will always be those who will hound you. So, live bravely now and stand up to them all. That is what you set out to do. Then do it. It might be easy for me to say that but I was not the one who asked you to do what you have done. Having done it, which was very brave, be brave and live up to it. So what if you die doing it? You have already made the decision to live dangerously. Live by it now. We all have to die one day. But few of us die bravely. Die bravely if you must.

Taslima Nasreen: My ideology and convictions have not changed, will never change. There are fundamentalists everywhere, even in the US or Europe. I had taken a decision to live in Bengal and will continue to so and not be frightened by a few anti-social hooligans. I don't consider what happened on 21st November is a serious threat. Those who took over the streets of Kolkata that afternoon haven't read my book. As an author I am not answerable to them. I repeat, I shall never be frightened by fanatics in my life or worry about my death.

Raj Saxena: Do you believe in god or you are atheist?

Taslima Nasreen: I am an atheist.

Raj Saxena: If you believe in god, then which god you beleive in?

Taslima Nasreen: I don't believe in god.

Chills_S: That means you are not a Muslim also?

Taslima Nasreen: I am a humanist free from religion.

Swaminathan: Taslima Nasreenji, To a writer freedom of expression is dearer than life. After your traumatic experiences, I would like to ask you following questions. If there is any dilemma in answering you are excused. 1. Do you think that in India freedom of expression is unconditional and existant? As a writer what do you aspire for? 2. Do you regret writing Lajja? Given the circumstances, would you take the courage to write again similarly or on the same topic? 3. Do you think that the Govt of India and the local government of West Bengal honestly want you in India like the majority of Indians. 4. What attracts you to Kolkata? Why not go to states like Karnatak or TN or even Gujarat where you can live in peace. Each of these states are having a sizable number of Bengalis. 5. Do you see as a non-citizen, the political parties in India are increasingly siding with the fundamentalists for political gains?

Next: Taslima on what next?