From: The Times of India
Taslima Nasreen tells TOI that even film adaptations of her works are being stalled midway.
The word 'coward' is being used in the context of what's happening to you or people around you. You used it while referring to Salman Rushdie and to what's happened at the Kolkata Book Fair...
I wouldn't say people are becoming cowards. There is an appeasement policy that parties are indulging in right now. Books are being banned. Authors are being sent into exile. Political parties are giving in to illogical demands of fundamentalists. That's dangerous for any democracy. Sometimes, even before the fundamentalists make their demands, the parties are going all out to appease them. That's only allowing victory to extremist and intolerant forces.
Are you disgusted with the way things are happening in India now?
No. There are some decisions by politicians that make me unhappy. I can never say that the entire country is suffering from some malice towards me. There are so many people who love me. It's important to keep the protest going. Gagging of free speech has been happening for a while now. Today, it's reached the peak. All of a sudden, I was banished from West Bengal. Governments have changed but the attitude towards authors speaking their mind hasn't.
What does this say about the political parties of India?
I don't wish to comment on political parties. I don't do politics and I'm not interested in political parties. I believe in humanism and democracy and only want to protest any attempt to throttle free speech. It's not just my books. See what's happened to the films that were supposed to be adapted from my works. There were three adaptations in the pipeline. None of them materialized. Contracts are signed but after a point, there is silence. What's worst is that things have reached such a stage that even creative people are afraid to speak on who has asked them not to go ahead with my adaptations. My publisher was the last one to get invitations for the book fair. The whole agenda was an attempt to stop the publisher from being a part of the book fair. I used to write for so many Bengali newspapers and magazines. One after the other, my columns have got dropped.
Is that why you are so active on Twitter?
Eighteen years ago, I was banished from Bangladesh and since then, the media there has stopped carrying my articles. It's been five years since I left Kolkata. Twitter is the only platform that I have. I write in English though my medium of expression is Bengali. The big bosses in the media have gagged me but that won't stop me from expressing myself.
While Rushdie didn't make it to the Jaipur Literature Festival, your book launch happened despite the opposition in Kolkata...
Rushdie should have come down. But then, there is no question of one-upmanship between Rushdie and me. We have bigger enemies to fight, including blind belief in religion and curbing of free speech. This is not my fight alone. Everyone should join in.
Some say that Rushdie and you, without being present at JLF and the Kolkata Book Fair respectively, have become the biggest stars, overshadowing other authors and their works.
It's important that this news is covered on the front pages. Otherwise, it will result in further gagging. Of course, any writer would want to be discussed on his or her literary merit. But one can't ignore the trauma of authors in exile. It's important to create an awareness on this.
What's it with you and controversy?
I don't create controversy. I have written a book. People create controversies. They burn books. I don't do anything.
But don't you find yourself getting dragged into controversies all the time?
I am an author. I believe in freedom of expression and women's liberation. I am against anyone who pulls society backwards. Fanatics use me for their political interest. While all this is happening, I am getting labelled as a controversial author. That's the irony.
Some say that freedom of expression should be exercised with responsibility. Do you believe in this?
Freedom of expression is needed for those who think differently. Everyone has the right to offend others without resorting to violence. Nobody has the right to live one's entire life without being offended. Society progresses by offending fanatics, conservatives and chauvinists. I respect the freedom of expression of those who oppose my views. But I don't believe in violence.
What in your view is the biggest shame now?
That I have been banished from Bangladesh. And why just Bangladesh? West Bengal too is no different now in wanting to curb my voice.
What's your biggest fear?
I want to live in the subcontinent. I can't go to Bangladesh. India is where I want to live. I fear that if I can't live in India, I might have to give up my dream of living in the subcontinent. I'm very scared of snakes as well. And I fear darkness. That, I suppose, has to do with my childhood memories of being in the dark.
Do you watch Bengali cinema and listen to songs?
I listen to Tagore. I watched "Memories in March" and Aparna Sen's "Iti Mrinalini." I have watched "Autograph". I love the "Amake amar moton thakte dao" song.
Does the world let you stay that way?
No, it doesn't. And in any case, does the male-dominated society ever let women stay the way they want to? I wish, it did.
This time it was Taslima. Tomorrow it could be someone else, feel authors and intellectuals...
"If writers are stopped like this, there's a dark future ahead. It makes me think twice if this city should be called 'the cultural capital' of India."
- Sunil Ganguly
"See what happened to Hussain and Rushdie. Taslima is also a victim of the same circumstances. The state should control these fundamentalists."
- Sangeeta Bandopadhyay
"There's no place for creative freedom in this city. It's very disappointing that the organizers of the book fair succumbed to threats from fanatics."
- Suchitra Bhattacharya
"I am distressed and shocked. It is Taslima today, it could be someone else tomorrow. Will there be any kind of freedom left for artists?"
- Abul Bashar
"There is nothing great about supporting speech that you like. It is when you support speech that you don't like or agree with that you can call yourself truly democratic."
- Shohini Ghosh, Professor, AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia
(Compiled by Madhusree Ghosh)
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