| Published on 26-11-2007 In National | | Viewed 2753 times | | Taslima Nasreen and the Indian Fundamentalists |
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| Written by
Girish Nikam | 
"I don't believe in God, -----The religion mongers segregate women from the human race, I too am divided, I too am defrauded of my human rights---" Taslima Nasreen
This statement of assertion as well as anguish by the Bangladeshi writer who now finds herself on the run is an interesting one. She says she is an atheist and one understands that in any country and especially in a democratic country like ours, has every right to make such an assertion, just like the believers assert their beliefs. She thinks that all "religion mongers" (interesting expression) segregate women from the human race. Well as a writer and someone who has experienced extreme forms of tyranny from the fundamentalists, she has a right to her view.
She has of course been a controversial writer, not just about the tyranny of religion (Islam) but also about men and matters. Some very eminent men have found it much to their chagrin that she is not only frank but also indiscreet, when it comes to exposing them. But she is not the first writer to do so and will certainly not be the last.
Any case, this is neither the occasion nor am I equipped to judge her as a writer, though going by the popularity--- her works are translated into 25 international languages--- she must be engaging at least.
The events of the last week in which Taslima has made news are certainly very disturbing. Ironically when Taslima was being hounded out of Kolkatta by a band of fundamentalist Muslims with an all-encompassing agenda from Nandigram to her ouster from the country, Parliament saw one of its most peaceful and productive sessions. If only we can have more such sessions where even such a controversial issue as Nandigram is discussed in such a cordial atmosphere, parliament may get redeemed after all.
The atmosphere outside was however worrisome, as fundamentalist muslims held Kolkatta to ransom, followed by the blasts in courts across Uttar Pradesh, and now threats that Taslima will not be allowed to remain in this country.
All these points to how fundamentalists are gaining ground across the country, and now no more can we say, as we said some years back, that local muslims are not part of this terror network. Even as we see a Dr.Haneef who has refused to be drawn into the fundamentalists network, there are increasing cases of young Indian Muslims becoming a willing partner in these acts of terror.
The basis for fundamentalism is as well known, in whichever religion, is intolerance---Of others' faith, of criticism of their own faith, claiming superiority of their faith. So when a Taslima Nasreen questions Islam and points out the many weaknesses in it and how women are treated in it, she becomes the target, of those who proclaim to uphold that faith. No different from the VHP, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal activists in this country, who also have displayed similar behaviour when they assume that Hinduism is under attack.
Unfortunately we have a polity, which has increasingly shown pussy -footedness in tackling such fundamentalists---of whichever variety. It was most disappointing to see a leftist West Bengal Government, completely confused about how to handle the Taslima incident.
One of the senior party functionaries, revealed the soft underbelly of the Government towards the Muslim fundamentalists, when he asked Taslima to quit Kolkatta. Later he retracted, but it only showed the lack of conviction as well as the rigor mortis, which has set into the West Bengal government's administration after the series of blunders from Nandigram onwards.
It just doesn't seem to get anything right, and so by refusing to defend a writer in exile like Taslima, it once again opened itself up to criticisms about its convictions.
If the left front Government in West Bengal was caught up in a tangled web, the UPA Government's reactions, was no better. Though External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee clarified a full 48 hours after Taslima had to run from Kolkatta that she was welcome to stay in India and her visa would be extended after it expires in February, the Home Minister presented a pathetic picture. Shivraj Patil has become a bane for the UPA Government. He is just unable to evoke the confidence of these countrymen that internal security under his command is safe. He has said nothing even once in all these three and half years at the helm of the Home Ministry, which could make us, feel that he knows what he is talking. The mystery therefore as to why he still continues as the Home Minister, has baffled everyone.
Coming back to fundamentalists, the atmosphere in this country is only becoming worse. Whom do we depend upon to face this threat, which is not just physical but more importantly ideological, when we have leaders who themselves are steeped in blind beliefs and superstitions. One was aghast last week when a Chief Minister, albeit for only seven days, B.S.Yediyurappa was seen publicly proclaiming that his life was under threat. And what was the source of that threat--- black magic! --- apparently he suspects being performed at the behest of former Prime Minister H.D.Deve Gowda.
It is unfair alright to target only Yediyurappa. Even Shivraj Patil has displayed such blind beliefs, when he had said that as Speaker whenever he was faced with trouble, he would close his eyes and think of Sai Baba of Whitefield and the trouble would end! We also have any number of politicians in this country who make a beeline to astrologers, palmists, black magicians and their ilk, not only to know what future holds for them but also when to start an important party meeting or sometimes even Cabinet meetings or when to go on tours and which direction to start from.
Are these the kind of people we can trust to get a hold on the problem of terrorism, which essentially stems from fundamentalist thought? Can these leaders who themselves are caught in a primordial mindset be expected to provide the direction to overcome the challenge of fundamentalism, be it Islamic or Hindu?
And is the media helping in any way, when it highlights the mumbo-jumbo and superstitions and has astrologers predicting the outcome of elections to cricket matches? Some food for thought as one empathises with the lady on the run as the bloodthirsty Islamic fundamentalists are determined to hound her out of the country. |
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