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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Keywords: Taslima Nasreen, Bangladeshi author

New Delhi: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen achieved a meteoric rise to fame in the 1980s for her strong feminist views, which are often seen as criticism of Islam and religion in general.

Her literature has won her millions of admirers all over the world. At the same time, she has been dogged by controversy from the day her book, Lajja, was published. She currently lives in India in exile.

In her first-ever web chat, the Bangladeshi author had interacted with readers on IBNLive for well over two hours and fielded their questions on a range of issues including literature, philosophy, on life in general, social issues and gender questions.

She did this interaction from a laptop and on the phone from an undisclosed location where the Indian Government is keeping her. Here we reproduce the full text of the chat.

Raj:Hi Madam, how does it feel being away from Kolkata? Secondly, has your perception changed about Indian politics now, I mean about the type of secularism, freedom and democracy we are having here?

Taslima Nasreen: I feel very depressed, forced to live out of Kolkata after being thrown out from the city I had been living in. I don't want to lose my faith in Indian secularism. I hope that I will be allowed to go back home.

Paritosh: Do you wish to go back to Bangladesh, your own motherland?

Taslima Nasreen: The Bangladesh Government does not allow me to go back to my own country. My citizenship rights have been violated and trampled upon for 13 years.

Canadian Desi: Hello Taslima, I'm from Canada. When I heard about the tragic scene of your press conference, I was totally devestated to learn that this thing is still happening in India. A lady can't write her feelings and experience openly in 21st Century. I'm proud of India, but that incident had shaken me. Keep up the good work.

Taslima Nasreen: I am also proud of India. It is only a handful of fanatics who cause trouble of this kind. Otherwise most Indians, I believe, are liberal.

Next: Does Taslima respect any religion?

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?

Taslima Nasreen: In India, freedom of expression is something which you still have to fight for. I want to reside in Bengal because I speak in Bengali, my culture is Bengali and I write in Bengali. Obviously, I feel at home there. I may be going through a lot of discomfort at the moment, I may have reasons to feel harassed, but I can obviously take hope from the fact that the majority of people want me in India. After all, in a democracy it's the majority which counts.

Susanta: What is forthcoming book?

Taslima Nasreen: I have been writing my autobiography. The forthcoming book is about my suffering after the death of my parents. I wasn't allowed to go to my country to be with my father in his last days. This will be the sixth part of my autobiography.

100rabh: Why do you think you don't hate India for all that it's done to you in the recent past?

Taslima Nasreen: Since my childhood, I have regarded India as a great land and a fearless nation. A land of my dreams; enlightened, strong, progressive and tolerant. I want to be proud of that India. I will die a happy the day I know India has forsaken darkness for light, bigotry for tolerance. I await that day. I do not know whether I will survive, but India and what she stands for has to survive.

Aravindhan: Do you think the Muslim women get influenced by your writings? Is their view of the society and religion changing? Do you feel you are successful or you think there is still a long way to go?

Taslima Nasreen: If I had not been successful in influencing women, I wouldn't have been targeted by fundamentalist forces.

Nikhil: What is the solution for this growing Talibanisation treatment towards Muslim women by these so-called mullahs?

Taslima Nasreen: True secularisation of the state, secular education and implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and by fighting traditions and customs which are anti-women.

Bubul: Taslima, you are not only a writer, but also a doctor and a sensitive human being. How do you cope with all the controversies: the loneliness of being away from Bengali language and culture, your friends and relatives and the scary fatwas and the ire of the fanatics? How do you motivate yourself on a daily basis — do you have any role models for moral courage like Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King or any favourite poetry/prose/quotes to get you through tough times?

Taslima Nasreen: My inspiration is any woman... say a woman breaking bricks for a living... It's her struggle, her fight which inspires me. I draw inspiration more from the ordinary than the extraordinary.

Test100: Do you support what France has done by banning conspicuous religious symbols like the hijab or the turban?

Taslima Nasreen: I don't think religious symbols should be encouraged in secular (free from religion) schools. This ban is only in secular schools.

Mukesh Marwah: Hi Taslima, my ouestions: 1. Any plan for new book? 2. Do you think you were right what you have written? If you do believe that you were right, then why don't you come out in the open and face the reality with the masses who are against you as per your thought and as per you book Lajja?

Taslima Nasreen: I have stood by truth come what may. Now the reality is that I am living under virtual house arrest. So I am not allowed by the government to go out and face the reality.

Next: 'Women are not child-bearing machines'

Suneela: Hi madam, could you please let us know your views on Indian literature?

Taslima Nasreen: I consider Indian literature really great. I believe that if literature written in regional languages were properly translated there would have been a number of Nobel Prize recipients in this country.

Ananya Biswas Roy: Do you think your writings will help change the attitude of Muslim fundamentalists towards the treatment of Muslim women in any way?

Taslima Nasreen: I write for humanity. I don't write for Muslims alone. And my writings revolve around the human concerns of every society, every human individual. My writings have definitely impacted upon the attitude of males everywhere, fundamentalists or for that even atheists. There are male chauvinists even among those who cannot be described as fundamentalists. My writings talk about equality and equal respect between both genders.

Shirin: Do you think, you can change people by your writing?

Taslima Nasreen: I am a writer. So, whatever change I can make has to be made through my writing. I'll have to go on trying.

Richa: Hi do you regret writing the truth?

Taslima Nasreen: Never.

Jeff Alan: 1. Is atheism really true? 2. Have you discovered the meaning in your life after all you being an atheist having been through various sufferings? 3. What is the greatest hope that an atheist have? 4. What caused you to believe atheism? Is it just because it freed you to your own passions? 5. What eternal value does an atheist possess?

Taslima Nasreen: I am an honest person and I work for humanity. It is not god and religion which have taught me to do what I am doing now. My conscience has been my teacher. I believe the greatest tragedy of mankind is that morality is hijacked by religion. I believe morality existed long before religion was created. Ancient Chinese philosophy propagated long before today's religions were born that don't do unto others what you won't do to yourself...

Ananth: Hi Taslima , what is the message for Muslim youths who are in a changing pahse in their life and getting Talibanised. What accoriding to you should they do so that they do not get radicalised?

Taslima Nasreen: I strongly believe that education is a solution to the problem. These young people should receive proper education about democracy, freedom of expression, equality and tolerance.

Nazia: Salaam Ms Nasreen, I would like to ask you what made you write against purdah etc?

Taslima Nasreen: I always want to see woman with dignity, self-esteem. I never want to see woman as a sexual object, slave, child bearing machine; I don't want to see woman as a mobile prisoner. I want to see woman walking with their heads held high. I never her reduced to somebody's personal property.

Manoranjan Ojha: In India we need people like you. Now the government is plannig to grant you permanent citizenship. If it happens, we will get another true lady in our society.

Taslima Nasreen: I'll be very happy to get permanent citizenship in India. I'd be happy to work for Indian society.

Tisha: Hello Taslima, firstly I would like to tell you that I am a huge fan of yours, and would also like to assure you that myself, and others like myself, will do whatever we can to get you the security, respect, dignity, you deserve so much! Secondly, I am a staunch feminist just as you, and I try to fight the injustice of patriarchy as much as I can. What I want to ask you is, what advise do you give to young feminists such as myself, so that at least somewhere in future, we get to live in the India where we women can wear whatever we want, walk freely on the roads, and live on our own terms?

Taslima Nasreen: Simply don't bother about criticism. Do whatever you like to do. It's your life.

Suneela: Hai Taslima! What are the factors that raised the harassment on women in India? I will be glad to know the ways to eradicate such type of cruel incidents in India.

Taslima Nasreen: Awareness and educating both men and women on women's rights. Children have to be taught to respect women as human beings from an early age. I have written a book called Women Have No Country in Bengali. It will soon be translated into English. The book deals with the emancipation of Indian women.

Ananya Biswas Roy: Thanks for the response. How did it feel Taslima to delete passages from your latest book under political pressure?

Taslima Nasreen: No writer wants to be forced to delete any of her writings. I have been fighting against censorship all my life. But I had no other option.

Next: Taslima on fatwas

Sharad: What do you think, how India is treating you? Do you feel like going to some other country?

Taslima Nasreen: I am in an undisclosed location and I am not allowed to step out; not even allowed to receive any friends. I have been kept in complete isolation, in confinement. Hope, I will be allowed to gain freedom and permitted to move about freely. That's my dream — to be released from this condition.

Raianil: We salute you brave lady for writing something which will change the society.

Taslima Nasreen: Thank you for the support and solidarity you have shown to me.

Sambaran Mitra: I apologise for the hardship you are having to face. I feel ashamed as an Indian (more so as Bengali) that I have knelt down in front of fundamentalists.

Taslima Nasreen: Let's hope that this secular democracy will value freedom of expression and human rights.

Srikanth: If you are on the side of the government, how would you handle the situation like this?

Taslima Nasreen: Had I been in the government, I would have allowed Taslima Nareen to let her go to her home in Kolkata and let her write whatever she believes in. This being a secular democracy, her right to freely express her views will be protected.

Nalin Tiwari: Certain sections in India, especially those who are apologetic about criticism of Islamic laws, try to draw a parallel between your case and the case for MF Hussain bundling them together as fight for 'freedom of expression'. However I feel labeling it thus trivialises your case since you stand for the need of reforms in a society which insists upon living by the laws laid down 1400 years ago by desert warlords whereas Hindus can still do without nude paintings of their godesses. So how do you see this entire debate and how much do you approve Husain's paintings?

Taslima Nasreen: I strongly believe in the freedom of expression for me as well as for MF Husain

Nashir: Hello Taslima, can you tell me what have you written which has cause you so much trouble as your book is not available here?

Taslima Nasreen: You have to read my books first.

Venkat: Good afternoon m'am. What do you think about the present situation where some poets are being issued fatwas? Should there be fatwas at all?

Taslima Nasreen: Fatwa is an act of barbarism. No thinking individual can tolerate these edicts.

I am grateful to all of you for the sympathy and support you have extended to me. It has made me all the determined and all the more committed to my cause. Thank you.