Desicritics Comments on Taslima Nasrin, The Outcast

Comment by Man Singh

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:11:27 EST

exception are those investigate God in scinetific way and produce a cross verifiable observations. In India at least we can claim some spritual Newtons.

Comment by Aaman

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:04:29 EST

all religions are fanatical, all followers of religion are fools, psychologically weak, and worse, people who get offended by paintings, books, et al are no different from terror-seeking mullahs in caves.

Comment by Man Singh

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:48:41 EST

yea I have seen the front page and is nhardly 1% of what so called writers wrote about Painter Hussein when his nude paintings were oppopsed by some sensitive Indians. Maoists marxists , secularists and Mullaists were beating their breast 100 time more in that case and today the same fellows are sermonising Nasreen to be disciplined and write sensibly. None did same to Hussein. Such gross biased mentality among so called writers creates the breeeding ground of fanaticism among majority community in India. Aman please do not dilute the garvity of such fundamental issues of `equality to all' by saying what you have said in u response. Then we shout at spoiled milk.

Comment by Aaman

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:37:56 EST

Man Singh, have you seen the front page recently? BTW, authors/commenters choose whatever they want to write about, they don't have to write about every teen pregnancy, or every contortion in Ms. Nasrin's life.

Comment by Aaman

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:37:45 EST

Comment by Man Singh

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:29:02 EST

I am wondering where are supporters of free speech now. I saw this site was flooded with articles when Hussein's paintings were attacked due to its contents of naked mother. I am sure Tasleema never did any thing worst then Huseein. Aditi Nadkarni, Sujai and many more have almost disappeared now. All those muslim contributers in this web are keeping mum as if the freedom of speech is limited to Hindu baitors only ie gangs of Mao marx macauley and Mohammed and rest of humanity following their native cultures deserve no rights at all.

Comment by Man Singh

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:49:58 EST

Comment by Vij

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:57:02 EST

Calling spade a spade is crime in islam. There are many critics of religion in christianity, hinduism etc. But very few rare brave souls in islam....courageous and heroic persons like Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen have to protect themselves from fundamentalists and islamic fascists.

Comment by Man Singh

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:28:57 EST

Will anybody throw the light what wrong Taslima nasrin did to Muslims or rest of humanity? Yes she expressed herself when Muslim mobs were brutally murdering innocent Hindus of Bangla Desh? Is it a crime to call a crime of crime even if done our own fellow belivers?

Comment by Farhan

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:04:36 EST

#21 Kerty I appreciate your answer, you talked positively this time, but I replied to your comment were you were complaining that the Government is not equal towards Hindu vs Muslim Fundamentalists. Is it clear?

Comment by Sam

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:09:37 EST

"Government's stupidity will empower only fanatics on both sides while moderate voices will lose out, and so will people of India. If you are not crying now, you will later." This reminds me of a poem I saw in the Holocaust Museum in Wshington. First they came for the Communists, - but I was not a communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, - but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, - but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

Comment by kerty

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:55:19 EST

Farhan.. If what Pranab said is an official central government's position on Taslima, than it needed to be exposed for its obvious flaws and contradictions and its attempts to gag critics selectively and lay down pre-conditions for enjoying freedoms. Official policy of silencing the critics of Islamic fundamentalism will set dangerous precedent and will prove short-sighted for moslems themselves. Some of you will start running around blogs crying like babies when Hindus take similar positions and Hindu fanatics start laying down similar pre-conditions to the critics in order for such critics to be able to live freely and enjoy freedom of expression in India. Until now, such acts of Hindu fanatics could be condemned by people and media, but this precedent will come back to haunt them too when next time they need to condemn actions of Hindu fanatics. Government's stupidity will empower only fanatics on both sides while moderate voices will lose out, and so will people of India. If you are not crying now, you will later.

Comment by Farhan

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:34:47 EST

Hello kerty you want the same benefit from Pranab, then ask for him, why do you just sit on blog and cry like a child "Mom you gave him why not to me"?

Comment by kerty

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:43:45 EST

Since when respecting the sentiment of other people became a pre-condition to be able to live freely in India? Isn't Pranab Mukharjee trying to gag Taslima not to offend Islamic fundamentalists? Will he issue similar fatwa to respect the sentiments of Hindu fundamentalists to be able to live freely in India?

Comment by Farhan

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:16:07 EST

Pranab Mukherjee is right when he said that Taslima is free to live anywhere provided she respects the sentiments of their hosts. I agree India is a great country which gave asylum since time, in the same sense Taslima is also welcome, hope she understands and respect the land. I read the book Lajja partly(in English) and I did not see anything blasphemous, she took the plight of Hindus in B'desh, we Muslims particularly shohld support this book, because we also face the Fascists gangs of Tagodias, Singhals, Modis and so on. And razormirage she did not speak about plight of Muslim women, friend looks like you are also as ignored as Muslim fundamentalists who took to streets, or Hindu Fascists who took to mass killing without knowing who committed Godhara. (well now investigation reveal that Godhara fire was an accident or even bad Sabotage (krystalnacht) by fellows)

Comment by Sam

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:26:07 EST

I have friends who come from all spectrums: atheists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Jews. Personally it makes for lively discussions and mutual respect for other peoples beliefs. I am even friendly with a devout CCR and a Saudi muttawa. I like to lead by example and it is my experience that most people are willing to meet you halfway. This does not happen by pretending that you are the only one who knows it all and everyone else is a moron who should know better. We have a wonderfully diverse world, why try to fill it with clones? I enjoy Christmas as much as Id as much as Diwali. I attend housewarming parties and sing bhajans, I attend mass and sing carols, I like to expose people to my religion (Islam) without evangelising or preaching. Its a beautiful world and life is too short to waste it on hating people and creating conflict.

Comment by kerty

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:36:50 EST

Sam.. Will you be willing to embrace those who question Taslimas, MF Husseins and all other iconoclasts? Would you be willing to treat those who do not embrace Taslimas as Iconoclasts too and embrace them with equal warmth? Why not?

Comment by Sam

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:46:03 EST

I think it is very interesting that a country like Bangladesh, has women writers who are willing to challenge the patriachial systems that have been in place for so long. Even the Prophet, who fought against female infanticide and accorded women the right to choice in marriage, the right to work, vote and own property 1400 years ago, would salute Taslima as following ijtehad or critical appraisal of society and religion. Not surprising at all, considering that it is in places like Bangladesh and Pakistan, so called backward countries, where women are elected by popular vote to the highest post in the country, a feat yet to be managed by big democracies that claim to accord equality to women. What we need in South Asia, is not pointing fingers, but grasping commonalities, the rich tradition of argumentation, dialogue and interfaith tolerance that has survived everything so far. Surely, it is not western secularism that will destroy us? There have been Muslims in India since the lifetime of the Prophet. The second oldest mosque in the world (after Mecca) is in India. We've lived together for 1400 years, maintaining our distinctness and assimilated without fear or hatred. Lets not allow the divide and rule policies of colonialism to poison our well. We have a lot more to offer the world as a united culture, rich in diversity and tolerance. Lets embrace the Taslimas, the MF Husseins, all iconoclasts who question the well tread paths.

Comment by razorMirage

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:40:25 EST

Raza Rumi, It is strange that my Comment #2 is ignored. I was just asking Pakisthanis not involving in Indian Internal politics. And not in this site. Also, see the irony. People thought I am pushing you out. But Farhan tried to push me out of talking this topic on Muslims altogether. I am sorry if I offended (unknowingly) Pakistan or Pakistanis. How can I dream of offending them. Pakistan is the place where hinduism, "Sapta Sindu" originated and you are the decendent of them. The fact that some religion came and taken over from past 8 centuries does not tarnish the 5000 year history we got from there.

Comment by razorMirage

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:30:44 EST

Farhan... you said .."what about you guys treating your women...". Good ploy to come out offensive. If you educated people only think like this then god knows what a comman Muslim thinks. You want to address my comment but NO ONE, NO ONE ever tried to look what Taslima really faced. Did anyone tried to see how oppressed she is and how much agony she faced. Instead, people even forgot that she is woman an started attacking her. I love to see a Muslim start a discussion on "Problems on Muslim Woman" or "What Taslima is faced". But no, every one come out on street and condemning her outright.

Comment by Raza Rumi

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:50:57 EST

Kerty: thanks for your insightful comment.. Mayank: that was good - the bad writer and the ugly politician - ha ha Razormirage: I respect your right to hold your views; however, you may wish to note that the term [EDITED] is a racist slur. Hope that you would target your invective against "Pakistanis" rather than a racist construct.. Further, I wish you had read the article carefully - Farhan: your comments are insightful but I think two wrongs don't make a right - having said that thanks for reminding that this is desicritics - ostensibly a South Asian/desi forum

Comment by Farhan

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:57:09 EST

Hello Free_Kafir, water, I see it daily, in fact I believe always. cheers

Comment by Farhan

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:46:57 EST

Hello Free_Kafir, water, I see it daily, in fact I believe always. cheers

Comment by Mayank Austen Soofi

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:14:04 EST

Ms. Nasreen is a bad writer but novelits should be judged for other reasons too. Her novel "Lajja" remains a powerful voice against the opression of weak. The Bangladeshi Hindus of that novel are also the Gujarati Muslims of Mr. Narendra Modi. It would be unfortunate if this bad writer falls into the trap of this ugly politician.

Comment by Free_Kafir

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:20:48 EST

Farhan, ha..ha..I am laughing all the way...how many times did you see Water. :)