The Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen is living in a ‘stateless’ situation in search for refuge after being hounded out of her motherland. After spending a couple of years in Sweden and France, the controversial Bengali writer decided to settle in Kolkata, her home away from home. However, peace of mind once again eluded the writer after a little known Islamic radical group laid violent protests in Kolkata last November demanding the writer’s ouster from the city. Bundled out of Kolkata the writer has been moved to an undisclosed location in Delhi. The Indian government was vacillating of late, whether or not to extend the writer’s visa that was to expire on 17 February. To Nasreen’s relief government of India has decided to extend her visa but has added a word of caution that ‘she remains sensitive to India’s traditions and not hurt its secular ethos’.

Taslima Nasreen seems to be a challenge to India’s secularism. The Indian government has to work cautiously for there is the danger of hurting the religious sentiment of minorities on one hand and on the other hand stands the danger of moving away from the Indian tradition of hospitality. Taslima has been a vociferous advocate of women’s rights since the day she wrote her first book, ‘Nirbacita Column’, a collection of short prose that won her the coveted ‘Ananda Purashkar’, the award that is given every year for the most popular work in Bengali. The writer has since written a number of books showing the poor plight of women and the atrocities on them by religious fundamentalists. Her remark against the prophet has won her the ire of Islamic fundamentalists. Whether Taslima’s views are right or wrong could be challenged in a number of forums. However, to give her death threats and forcefully preventing her from expressing herself is against all norms of a civilized society.

In the wake of religious fundamentalism in India, giving shelter to a foreigner might strengthen these forces. However, acceding to their demand will only embolden them. Taslima Nasreen’s only weapon is a pen, to defeat her in her game why do not her adversaries pick up their pens and prove her wrong instead of baying for her blood.

Source: NDTV
Image: Durdesh