The Attack on Taslima Nasreen has resulted in a barrage of editorials, articles, condemnations, explanations and analyses. One of these is titled 'The Secular Silence', published in the Hidustan Times. Barkha Dutt writes: "Where are the placard-waving protestors this time? What happened to the street marches, the irate editorials and the lament for creative freedom? Does our outrage choose sides this selectively?" Excellent Questions!
Dutt further writes: "So, protest peacefully by all means against the writings of Taslima Nasreen. Let there even be a genuine debate over whether India should get entangled in giving her political asylum. After all, the right to dissent is as sacred as the right to express. Call her lowbrow, offensive, inflammatory and an incendiary agent if that’s what you think she is. But draw the line at both assault and censorship."
Very sensible, totally agree with that.
One paragraph amused me: "This isn’t really about the author or her literary worth. Every time that zealots clash with the zany and Religion and Freedom take opposite positions across the trenches, the issue becomes larger than the individual. So, yes, perhaps Taslima Nasreen is a somewhat overrated writer, more famous for her contrarian politics than her turn of phrase. And yes, there are those who argue, with good reason, that she is shrill, clamorous of attention and somewhat obsessed with writing kiss-and-tell accounts of her sexual history. But none of that is really the point."
This same opinion was echoed by Farzana Versey in 'Taslima and Her Technicolor Boat', published in Counterpunch. She writes: "If Taslima is all about this major literary voice being stilled, why is it that very little analysis is being done of her writings? Why is she always in the news for a perspective other than one of literary or ethical significance? Even when she wrote an autobiographical account in which several writers and political figures were mentioned, not for their role in damaging society but for sleeping with her, she was harping on freedom of speech."
Farzana also writes: "Taslima Nasreen, like many contemporary Muslim writers, is trying to portray the victim of religion. The best manner in which to do so since Sir Salman (before he was knighted) showed the way is through the dark Islamic tunnel."
Farzana's assessment: "The problem is that Muslims are a bunch of fools. They imagine that most of these books will have an impact. They don’t." is spot on!
Nevertheless I agree with her on: "I don’t think Taslima or anyone should be physically attacked."
Those who think that Taslima's criticism is wrong or unjustified should engage her in a discussion, try to refute her claims, but not physically attack nor threaten her life. That is intellectual bankruptcy. Violence never solved anything!
Pictures curtsey of Philosopedia.
Very sensible, totally agree with that.
One paragraph amused me: "This isn’t really about the author or her literary worth. Every time that zealots clash with the zany and Religion and Freedom take opposite positions across the trenches, the issue becomes larger than the individual. So, yes, perhaps Taslima Nasreen is a somewhat overrated writer, more famous for her contrarian politics than her turn of phrase. And yes, there are those who argue, with good reason, that she is shrill, clamorous of attention and somewhat obsessed with writing kiss-and-tell accounts of her sexual history. But none of that is really the point."
This same opinion was echoed by Farzana Versey in 'Taslima and Her Technicolor Boat', published in Counterpunch. She writes: "If Taslima is all about this major literary voice being stilled, why is it that very little analysis is being done of her writings? Why is she always in the news for a perspective other than one of literary or ethical significance? Even when she wrote an autobiographical account in which several writers and political figures were mentioned, not for their role in damaging society but for sleeping with her, she was harping on freedom of speech."
Farzana also writes: "Taslima Nasreen, like many contemporary Muslim writers, is trying to portray the victim of religion. The best manner in which to do so since Sir Salman (before he was knighted) showed the way is through the dark Islamic tunnel."
Farzana's assessment: "The problem is that Muslims are a bunch of fools. They imagine that most of these books will have an impact. They don’t." is spot on!
Nevertheless I agree with her on: "I don’t think Taslima or anyone should be physically attacked."
Those who think that Taslima's criticism is wrong or unjustified should engage her in a discussion, try to refute her claims, but not physically attack nor threaten her life. That is intellectual bankruptcy. Violence never solved anything!
Pictures curtsey of Philosopedia.
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