Author: Dhiman Chattopadhyay
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 30, 2003
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/331249.cms
"Patriarchy has struck with a vengeance,
unable to accept the fact that a woman can write and expose life behind
closed doors and talk openly about everything from religion to the sex
lives of 'well- known' men," was writer Taslima Nasrin's first reaction
when The Times of India called her in New York on Saturday on the controversy
surrounding her book Dwikhondito .
Nasrin expressed "shock and dismay"
at the state government's decision to proscribe her book.
"Have riots taken place because
of my writings anywhere? Am I to blame for communal strife in Gujarat or
Assam ? Whatever I have written about Islam in Dwikhondito is based on
historical facts, and has been sourced in most cases from universally accepted
books on Islam and Islamic history. I take back nothing because they are
all true, both about Islam and about what I have written about my own life.
They happened. Every bit of it," she said.
Admitting she was yet to come to
terms with the news that Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's 'progressive Left' had
banned her book, she said, "I had thought West Bengal was progressive.
I am shocked at their decision." One thing she is sure of, though, is that
the decision smacks of "a patriarchal system stung by the audacity of a
woman".
"It is patriarchy that has reacted.
To them it's 'how dare a woman talk about such hush hush topics?' This
to me is a fundamentalism of sorts," she said.
"Dwikhondito is a part of my life,
the third part of my autobiography. It hides nothing and talks about everything
freely. I have written about all my experiences, and it has made life uncomfortable
for some famous people." Taslima is hurt at some of her friends keeping
their mouths shut.
"The reactions of my friends and
other literary figures in Kolkata have hurt me, pained me. They may not
realise it but by being writers who are keeping quiet or supporting the
ban, they are inviting a dark and shameful period in the history of Bengali
literature. They will be remembered for inviting a restriction on freedom
of free speech," she said.
"The image of West Bengal has suffered
in the West as a result of this decision. But I still think it's a temporary
madness which will pass. I still can't believe the Left Front has banned
my book. It just doesn't sound true," she said.
And finally the news: "The next
part of my autobiography - Shei Shob Ondhokar - is set to hit the stands
at the 2004 book fair. I am not scared. My pen won't stop and the next
book will continue to tell the truth," she concluded.
