Taslima Nasrin bares herself & others with her latest autobiography "Ka"
Gyan Taposh
"Ka"
I am/was not a fan of Taslima Nasrin. Infact, I was and am a Taslima
basher. However, after following the events unfolding since the
publication of her autobiography "Ka", I took a renewed interest in
her writing. I decided to read two of her books ('Nosto Meyer Nosto
Gadya' and 'Nirbachito Kolam') that I purchased during my last visit
to Dhaka to understand her psyche. Her mindset revealed in 'Ka' is
consistent with that in other books such as 'Amar Meyebela' and
'Lajja'. Although I do not subscribe to some of her extremist feminist
views, I must admit that I find her writing style quite unique. She
definitely makes a better writress than a physician. The hypocrisy of
secular fundamentalists writers and newspapers, on both sides of the
border, prompted me to translate certain recent news events and some
relevant newspaper clips that I had collected over the years. If you
have a rational mind, this should have enough food for thought for
you.
'Ka' is the third in series on her autobiography of Taslima. "Ka' is a
widely used word in Mymensingh where Taslima was born. In colloquial
rustic Bengali parlance, Ka' means 'Speak Up'. In this autobiography,
Taslima has narrated her life stories that took place during the ages
between 25 and 29. The other two autobiographical books (Amar Meyebela
and Utal Hawa) were banned as well. She used to write a column 'Nosto
Kalom' in Jai Jai Din. More information on Taslima Nasrin can be found
in her official website, http://www.taslimanasrin.com
The news of publication of Taslima's book "Ka" was first revealed by
Daily Jugantor 26/10/2003. Then the daily Manavzamin published
excerpts from the book that contained detailed narrations of her
sexual relations with mostly the "well-known" literary personalities.
The publisher of this book in Bangladesh is Mesbahuddin Ahmad of
Charbak located at 38/4 Banglabazar. He took the liberty of excluding
two pages from the book that is said to contain blasphemous remarks
about Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The same book has also been
published in Calcutta under the name Dwikhandito (meaning Divided)
which contains the pages that were expunged from its Bangladeshi
edition. Dwikhandito also included her sexual encounters with several
writers in West Bengal aka 'Waste Bengol'.
The first 5,000 prints of the 415-page book were sold in Bangladesh in
a matter of few days. So did the second 5,000 prints. Then came the
temporary court injunction (upon filing of libel lawsuit by Syed
Shamsul Huq) barring the publication, circulation and preservation of
this book. On the night (8PM) of Nov 13 (Thursday), a gang of 10~12
armed terrorists, backed by fascist Awami League, attacked the book
binding facilities in the old Dhaka city - Panchbhai Ghat Lane,
Patlakhan Lane and Srishdas Lane, and looted several thousands (bound
and unbound) books. They went to Chardik Publishers and demanded
money. The armed hooligans threatened the binding workers not to do
any more binding of the book in the future.
In the book "Ka", Taslima narrated in detail her sexual encounters
with various personalities of Bangladesh's literary milieu and few
other people. People who were known as "deity" to common people ten
years ago has been depicted as "monsters" in her book. Taslima has
issued character certificates for all these people in her book. She
performed meticulous surgery on the characters of those so-called
cultured members of the civil society - secular writers, poets,
novelists, dramatists, essayists, journalists, et al. These people
used to call themselves "intellectualists". They used to recite their
humanistic poems in various programs. The nation is continuously given
dossier of valuable lessons through the TV rendition of their stories
and novels. But many people did not know their real character. Taslima
gave the unique opportunity to the people of Bangladesh to get to know
the true colour of those people who used to be adored by the
countrymen as ideal citizens -- torch-bearers of peace & progress.
Taslima discussed about her personal (literary & sex) life in the
book. She also touched upon the characters of people she came in touch
with. There is a category of people with whom she had sex irrespective
of religion or social status. The other category is known as secular
(Actually atheists), India-loyal politicians, writers, poets,
novelists and cultural artistes. She never had sexual encounters with
people who were at odds with her political views. Six persons with
whom she had pre and extra-marital sexual affairs were novelist
Imdadul Haque Milon, Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah (later her first
husband), journalist Naimul Islam Khan (later her second husband),
Mohammad Ali Minar aka Minar Mahmud (later her third husband and
former Bichinta editor; currently living in the USA), poet Syed Hasmat
Jalal (son of Calcatian litterateur Syed Mustafa Shiraj) and Kaiser
(former Gazipur subdistrict chairman). Among the people who wanted to
take her to bed were novelist Syed Shamsul Huq, poet Helal Hafiz,
journalist Abu Hasan Shahriar, Mozammel Babu, publisher Khoka, et al.
Taslima divulged the dark side of the lives of medical practitioners
Shipra & Manu, Shipra & Harun, Neepa & Naheed, Farhad Mazhar & Farida
Akhter, poet Shamsur Rahman & Oyshwaryashila (a married hindu
housewife) and Mriganka (a 21-year old young hindu man) & Sharifa
Khatun (a 58-year old woman).
Taslima mentioned the names of few more distinguished people who did
not stare at her with lustful eyes but who engaged in extra-marital
affairs in her house. Foremost among them were poet Shamsur Rahman.
Sitting in the verandah, Taslima overheard love talk between Shamsur
Rahman and Oyshwaryashila. Here is bit more information about this
great womanizer. In a March-April issue (2003) of a fortnightly
magazine, Shamsur Rahman admitted, "Although I was attracted to one
woman in the beginning, I used to love all types of women, married or
unmarried later in my life. I established sexual relationship with
several women. Then I deserted them. I don't believe that one has to
marry a woman after loving her. Sometimes I think that it is better to
love someone but not marry her. I had 6/7 lovers in my life so far. I
am indebted to all of them with whom I had love affairs. They gave me
a lot - they enriched my thought process. They helped me to write
poems. Love is not bound by age. It is possible to love during old
age. Love has a different power. A type of mental strength is required
to cope with the surge of strong love. That overpowers the hindrance
created by old age." (Daily Inqilab, 22/07/2003).
Poet Nirmalendu Goon engaged in committing dacoity at night in a
village in Netrokona. Goon is said to be stealing money while serving
as the captain of a hostel. He also fled away from restaurants without
making payments for the food eaten. She discussed about the hypocrisy
of Matiur Rahman (editor of Prothom Alo) and his wife Maleka Begum.
She also talked about Farhad Mazhar's relationship with Farida Akhter,
an Awami activist. She mentioned about a female doctor by the name
Shipra who slept with various men to enjoy orgasmic pleasure. She
portrayed two of her girlfriends Neepa and Naheed as lesbians. Taslima
mentioned in her book about Minar Mahmud compelling her to abort the
fetus (p118-119).
There is a group of people in our society who are engaged in
promiscuous sexual acts. But they never acknowledge that due to fear
of either rejection by the people around them or loosing respectful
status in the society. But this is sheer hypocrisy. There is no dearth
of hypocrite people in our society. Just as there are lot of hypocrite
politicians so are hypocrite social workers. It's the same situation
with the number of hypocrite beggars, yellow journalists and dishonest
businessmen. But Taslima Nasrin is an exception to this. No matter
what she is, she is at least not a hypocrite for the most part. She
admitted openly whatever promiscuous things she did. It was expected
of her admirers to speak highly of her. But it did not turn out to be
that way this time. Because they are not as courageous as Taslima is.
Their actions don't follow their words. Taslima had no hesitation to
brand them as hypocrites even if many would find it hard to do so.
Point your browser to http://www.banglalive.com (specially the Matamat
section) to read more about Taslima.
In the past, these personalities were known to the general public as
Muslims but now their true colour has been made crystal clear by
Taslima. Taslima made it clear that she had sexual encounters with
many of these personalities. She was quite amazed to find their strong
propensity to make love to her although Taslima herself is not a saint
either. Caught red-handed, these so-called poets, litterateurs,
novelists are now accusing Taslima of penning a pornographic book.
Some are making scathing remarks such as "It's not true what Taslima
said", "So what?", "It's not proper to say such things", "gone too
far", "It does not matter what she said", "She lost her originally",
"She has run out of gas but still doing stunts to remain in the
limelight" etc. It is quite amusing that ten years ago, these same
bunch of people stood beside Taslima to uphold her right to free
speech and free lifestyle. The champions of these so-called libertine,
womaniser, secularist, sham-intellectualist hypocrites now want to gag
free speech. They went full steam to encourage her to make
anti-Islamic and blasphemous remarks. But they are now at loggerheads
with her now that she has brought into the fore the dark side of these
so-called intellectualists. In the past, they wanted to use Taslima to
garner their selfish interests and to speak against Muslims and Islam.
Poet Shamsur Rahman said, "There is no room for vulgarity in
literature. No writer writes what Taslima wrote. This kind of writing
may create uproar in the society. But this does not bring any good for
any party. I don't feel like speaking anything on this shameful matter
let alone explain anything."
Noveslist Imdadul Huq Milon, who got himself admitted to a hospital
with complaints of chest after reading about his adultery revealed in
Taslima's book, had this to say - "I am not paying heed to what she
wrote about me. I didn't read her book. I have only heard what she
wrote. But whatever she wrote, I am not taking any interest. Forget
about it." Milons' fake hospitalization was just to avoid facing
friends and family. Another hardcore Awami Leaguer Mamtazudin Ahmed
expressed similar opinion.
Some of the personalities, whose names were mentioned in the book,
admitted, "90% of what Taslima wrote are facts; 10% colour was added
to give it a literary flavour."
People who had sex with her did not directly deny Taslima's
allegations. They merely avoided the issue. Taslima made it crystal
clear, "After coming to know that I established sexual relationship
with more than one man, many men stare at my body with lustful eyes as
if my body is cheap and readily available to them." (Ka, p.266).
Taslima has presented a distinct aspect of the characters of these
people - almost all of them are atheists (under the garb of
secularism), heavy drinkers and very liberal about illicit sexual
activities with other women (including married women). Due to partisan
media, people of this country were not aware of those qualities of
these well-known personalities (a new breed of people touted as
intellectualists since early 1990s). But Taslima divulged their true
identity without any cover-up. These Muslim-naming bearing
personalities always shower invectives upon Muslims and Islam. But
nobody can cite an example where and when these bunch ever said
anything negative about other religions - be it Hinduism, Buddhism or
Christianity.
Syed Shamsul Huq's libertine character is well-known to many people.
Ignoring his wife Anwara Syed Huq, he currently sleeps around with his
sister-in-law. Just like his character Babar Ali in his
eroticism-filled novel "Khelaram Kheley Ja", Syed Huq had been living
a life of debauchery in his real life. This cunning chap lodged a
libel lawsuit against Taslima with the help of a ruling BNP MP
Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan. Barrister Khan is also the husband of
Syed Huq's deceased sister. He tried to use Muslim sentiments and draw
sympathy of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and at the same time Opposition
leader Sheikh Hasina by alleging that Taslima made blasphemous remarks
about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Quran as well as derogatory comments
about Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in her book. It is an irony of
fact that this same Syed Huq took the side of Taslima ten years ago
when she made blasphemous remarks about Islam, Muslims, Quran, Allah
and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As such, various lawyers and curious
people made snide remarks and laughed jestfully when Syed Huq came to
the court to lodge libel lawsuit. Some remarked Taslima to be Syed's
Frankenstein.
Those who are able to read Bengali, please direct your browser to
http://www.e-mela.com to read the original excerpts related to Syed
Huq from Taslima's book "Ka". The website features pages 65-75 from
her book that details Syed Huq's desperate attempt to have sex with
Taslima as well as his illicit sexual activities with various women
including his sister-in-law. Syed Huq put his hand on Taslima's bra
hook while pretending to show sympathy when Taslima was thinking about
deserting Rudra - her first husband. Taslima made it clear that she
harboured as much respect for Syed Huq as much as she had qualms about
his ill desires.
Once Syed Huq took Taslima to his empty house (in the painting room)
in readiness to have sex with her. Syed told Taslima about his love
life and his deep love (sexual) life with his sister-in-law who was
raised in his house. After that in-law eloped with a low-calibre young
man, he received the shell-shock of his life. He could not bear the
absence of his (secret sex partner) sister-in-law. Taslima tried to
entertain Syed Huq in their house (named 'Obokash') in Mymensingh. But
her younger brother threw cold water to that plan by hurling harsh
comments, "The entire city of Dhaka knows about the mischievous acts
of Hoqu (Huq). This libertine Hoqu is adept at enjoying his life with
young women."
After her divorce with Rudra, Syed Huq took Taslima to Rangamati for a
change. There he rented one bedroom of a hotel to stay the night
together and have sex with her. In Kaptai, Syed Huq introduced Taslima
as his daughter to everybody so that he could rent only one bedroom in
the Naval Guesthouse in Kaptai although there were plenty of vacancies
there. Syed Huq was completely drunk that night. Taslima spent the
entire night with him in one room with the trepidation of getting
raped. Syed Huq paced back and forth in the room the entire night in
anticipation of spontaneous sexual advance from Taslima for consensual
sex. Alas, his dream didn't come true. Syed Huq was naturally angry.
He lamented on squandering money after Taslima without being able to
fulfill his erotic adventure.
One Boni Amin (litu...@ozemail.com.au) from Sydney, Ausrtalia
testified on the 12th Nov issue of the daily Manavzamin that he and
his wife are witness to Syed Huq's romantic adventure with Taslima in
Rangamati and Chittagong in February of 1989. The proof that Syed Huq
tried to introduce Taslima to others as his daughter (in order to rent
one room in the hotel) can easily be found in Taslima's other book
(Nosto Meyer Nosto Godya, p.15) published in 1993 by Anandabazar.
It has been heard that Syed Huq was very much saddened since no
organization brought out any street protest process in support of him.
He wrote an article in the daily Janakantha (16/11/2003) on the issue
of free speech where he mentioned that he does not believe in right to
unbridled free speech. Hypocrisy at its best! He believed in free
speech but went about filing a libel lawsuit in which he not only
asked for Taka 10 crore compensation but also appealed to the Court to
confiscate the book. This is a direct attack on the reader's right to
free choice and writer's right to free speech. Many people find it
amusing that one writer demanded banning of another writer's book !
Syed Huq himself abused the liberty of free speech. Now he is
preaching that liberty of free speech is not limitless. Guilt-stricken
Syed Huq left for London on Nov 17 on Emirates flight EK583. There
were no relatives or friends present at the airport to bade him
goodbye.
There is more to Syed Huq. It is this Syed Huq who congratulated Field
Marshall Ayub Khan during Pakistan era. He did not take up his pen
during the independence struggle of Bangladesh. After the
assassination of neo-dictator Sheikh Mujib, he wrote a novel
criticizing Mujib but later concealed it. He never wrote a single line
against the dictatorial rule of President Ershad either.
Leftist, secular, RAW-Awami financed newspapers like Janakantha,
Bhorer Kagoj, Ajker Kagoj, Daily Star, Prothom-Alo, etc are now
keeping mum about Taslima's latest autobiography. Since the evil
characters of column-beasts have been exposed, they are reluctant to
give any press coverage to her anymore. They are now trying to
convince their readers about the vested interest of Taslima. These
media terrorists are now playing double-standard game. They are now
portraying Taslima as a sex pervert and a controversial writress. The
leftist secular newspapers have recently started prefixing Taslima's
name with adjectives like "highly controversial writress". Taslima
wasn't deemed controversial as long as she served as long as she wrote
against Islam, Muslims, Bangladesh.
These hypocrite newspapers are now trying to teach Taslima how to
write autobiography. They are trying to teach Taslima that she
shouldn't have mentioned any personal matters of other people in her
book without their permission!! In the Western world, many
autobiography writers don't hesitate to reveal many secret matters
happening in their lives. For example, Tolstoy, Bertrand Russell
openly admitted about their sexual relationship with many women.
Girlfriend of Jean Paul Satre, French novelist Francios Saga gave
lurid description of their sex lives in their autobiography. In his
autobiography Mahatma Gandhi admitted about his going to prostitution.
During a speech given to the students of Tufts University, Taslima
firmly stood by her statement and confirmed the veracity of her
accounts in the book. While exchanging views with some writers on the
campus of Tufts University in Boston, Taslima expressed her sadness
upon hearing the banning of the book 'Ka'. She stood by her writing
saying, "Everything I said in my book 'Ka' is absolutely true. This is
my right to free expression. However, failing to counter my complaints
with counter arguments, they hindered my liberty by resorting to the
court. This is not representative of civil behaviour. They could have
written rebuttal. The readers could then judge for themselves as to
which was true or false. Civil Society expected that. I am not scared
of lawsuits. I have already been conferred one year's of jail sentence
in absentia. But I was deeply hurt for banning of the book 'Ka'. I
hope that the conscientious people of Bangladesh will stand up against
the banning of this book." It is to be noted that for the last several
months, Taslima had been researching on secularism at the John F
Kennedy School of Govt at the Harvard University.
Calcatian libertine poet Syed Hasmat Jalal lodged a libel lawsuit in
Calcutta High Court against Taslima and asked for Taka 11 crore as
compensation. High Court's hindu communal judge Jayant Biswas banned
Taslima's book Dikhandito. Later, the book was banned by hindu
fundamentalist Waste Bengol govt.
Taslima wrote these words about Jalal -- "I spent three nights with
Jalal in Calcutta and enjoyed sex with him in various ways. One night
he came to tell me his life story. I listened to his story for the
whole night - how he fell in love, how he got married, how he got
divorced, how loneliness is drying up the exilir of his life. He kept
speaking while drinking heavily. Just before sunrise, he started to
drink me (had sex)."
In that West Bengal version of the book 'Ka', Taslima revealed her
sexual relationship with the communal hindu novelists, poets, story
writes, et al. Taslima claimed in her book that well-known novelist
Sunil Ganguly had sex with her. But Sunil declined it as usual. Sunil
tried in vain to justify the banning of the book by saying, "This
novel is blasphemous to Islam and can spread communal violence."
Several prominent writers and poets in Kolkata said Taslima Nasreen
would "no more find Kolkata as welcoming as in the past". "You know
why this book will sell? Primarily because it is pornographic," writer
Dibyendu Palit said. To save the face of libertine literary figures of
Waste Bengol, the hindu fundamentalist govt banned the book showing
the excuse of probable spread of communal violence. This same communal
hindu fanatics did not smell anything fishy when Taslima's book Lajja
(Shame) was published which was replete with false information about
attacks on hindus in Bangladesh in the wake of Babri mosque
demolition. Talk about hypocrisy and 'chanakya kutchal'.
Dwikhandito was published from Calcutta on Nov 4 and 2,000 copies were
sold before it was banned. Shibani Mukherjee, owner of People's Book
House, who published Taslima's two other banned books, 'Amar Meyebela'
(My Girlhood) and 'Utal Hawa' (Gusty Winds), commented, "Communal
tension is not an issue in this book. The authorities can let the book
stay in the market if they sincerely wish. Besides, there is huge
demand for this book in the market at this moment. We are unable to
print more copies of the book due to police order." Novelist & poet
Naboneeta Dev Sen said, "We can't imagine banning of books in a state
like West Bengal. This is unbelievable. Police Administration
shouldn't have done this."
Taslima defended her position, "A rumour spread in Bangladesh that in
my autobiography 'KA' I was guilty of character assassination, that I
had written obscene material about some of the country's
intellectuals. A few journalists took the initiative to spread the
rumor, resulting in angry protests from some poets and writers. I was
alleged to have lied by writing sensational material in order to sell
my books.
It is disappointing to learn that anyone would be angry with me
because of a rumour, that they would attack me without having read or
understood my book. As is well-known, I have been forced to live with
a fatwa issued by religious extremists, but it is disheartening to
find that any intellectual who claims to believe in the freedom of
expression would take a position about me similar to that of the
religious extremists.
I was alleged to have written obscene material. Obscenity, it was
said, has no place in literature. Some who in the past praised me for
my honesty and the truths about which I wrote are now attacking me for
that very same honesty. What I wrote were descriptions of what
literally, physically, and emotionally happened to me. I wrote about
those of my friends who surrounded me at different times of my life's
story. In my book I portrayed them as human beings, and a
disinterested observer would question why anyone would object. Were I
to have damaged anybody's character, I would have been damaging my
own, not theirs. My memoir's purpose was not to prove that I am good
person, a saint, a goddess. My purpose was to describe the beautiful,
the not-so-beautiful, and the in-between events that happen in one's
literary life.
"Il faut cultiver notre jardin," Voltaire wrote in Candide, satirizing
those unquestioning people who think that "all is for the best in the
best of possible worlds." Voltaire satirized those who are uncritical,
who say, "Let us work without disputing; it is the only way to render
life tolerable." However, as was Voltaire's concern, my own concern is
to expose life's injustices, not to go about blindly cultivating my
little personal space without regard for what is happening elsewhere.
In Bangladesh, it has always been shameful for women to have relations
with men who are not their husband. Men, however, have always been
proud of having multiple relations. The recent uproar in Bangladesh
shows hat it is shameful if a man's extra-marital affair is disclosed.
This, I should say, is a commendably positive development.
My book KA, would be banned because, I have been told, pressure on the
Government by certain intellectuals. This strikes me as illustrating
fundamentalist logic, for what I wrote is analogous to material found
throughout the world's literature. Is there any other country in the
world whose literature contains only sweetness and light and, if there
were such a mind-controlled place, why would its intellectuals be
content?
The first and the second parts of my autobiography were banned in
Bangladesh, my beloved country, because of pressure by Islamic
fundamentalists. If the book's third part does get banned because of
any pressure by intellectuals there, this is cause for them to be
indicted, not me. They should be the very ones who are working to open
closed eyes, to come to my defense. As Voltaire said, "History is
nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes." In my books I
aim to describe that tableau."
Taslima expressed 'shock and dismay' over the decision to proscribe
her book, saying the West Bengal government, which had opposed the
Centre's ban on Salman Rushdie's controversial 'Satanic Verses', had
shown "double standards" in proscribing her book now. When Rushdie's
book was banned for anti-Islamic content, the same government made a
strong case against it. Today they are toeing the same line. In my
personal opinion, 'Aamar Meyebela' (My Girlhood) was far more
anti-Islamic than this one. Why didn't they ban it?. That I am
anti-Islamic is not a revelation. In all my syndicated columns and
books, I have made no secret of this belief. Why is this mild book
irking the West Bengal government this time?"
Shibani Mukherjee, owner of the book's Indian publisher People's Book
Society said she would take legal steps to contest the West Bengal
government's action on 'Dwikhandita'. The publishers would also not
hesitate to bring out the fourth volume of the book, she added.
People's Book Society, working out of a few square feet on the first
floor of 12C, Bankim Chatterjee Street, and known mainly for
publications that make up the city's "parallel literature", has -
before publishing Dwikhandita - brought out the earlier two volumes of
Nasreen's Amar Meyebela.
What's the fuss about destroying the communal harmony? Let us explore
from her book. In the Dwikhandito, Taslima attacked Islam and Muslims
as usual - "Once again the habit of uttering Inshallah, Mashallah and
Subhanallah have come into vogue. I had never uttered these words
since I became mature. I never greet anybody with salutations like
Assalamu Alaikum. Neither do I bade someone goodbye with the word
"khoda hafez"; I use Bengali words instead. Now-a-days the name of
Allah-Khoda is at the tip of tongues of people. That does not do any
good to Allah. Neither do the people who utter His name garner any
benefit. The Maulanas are destroying the villages of Golden Bengal
just as the locusts destroy the crops. Entire Bangladesh will be
doomed if they are not annihilated." Fatwabaz people are rendering
self-reliant women socially outcast. The new generation has to take
the solid pledge of ostracizing all the fatwabaz Maulanas of the
entire country."
The real reason behind the banning of this book by the hindu
fundamentalists is the following facts propounded by Taslima:
Taslima propounded some truths about the communal tactics of
Anandabazar publishers and the frustration of Muslim writers in
Calcutta. She wrote, "Jalal is a Muslim man; He was Muslim by name
only, not by faith. Jalal narrated the sad story of how he, his
grandfather, and his relatives have to suffer due to their Muslim
names. His grandfather Syed Mustafa Shiraj was a great writer but he
was ditched by Anandabazar when he was at his peak."
"Sitting in the verandah of a house on Keats street, I keep my eyes
fixed on the darkened Calcutta city. By dawn, Calcutta will wake up.
Calcutta is so beautiful. The people are cordial; there is so much
liveliness around. I love Calcutta very much. But gloominess dawn on
me when I find that Hindus and Muslims don't live side by side in this
city. Majority of the Muslims live in certain areas. Hindu homeowners
don't rent their properties to Muslims. There is no such practice in
Bangladesh. Hindus and Muslims don't live in ghettoes. Anybody can
live anywhere he likes. Many multi-storied buildings have sprung up in
Bangladesh. One can find Hindus living on the first floor, Muslims on
the second floor, Buddhists on the third floor and Christians on the
fourth floor. Hindus in Bangladesh are not unaware of the religious
customs of the Muslims. Likewise Muslims are very much aware of many
Hindu festivals. This because they live as neighbours. Although the
Muslims in Calcutta keep knowledge of Hindu festivities, Hindus don't
know much about the festivities of the Muslims."
Just like the leftist, secular media and litterateurs in Bangladesh,
Taslima's one-time Calcatian mentors and patrons have taken similar
stance. They are now comparing Taslima to Calcutta's former well-known
prostitute Nandarani who used to work out of a popular brothel in
Shonagachhi some 90 years ago. In fact, they ranked Nandarani higher
in esteem than Taslima since Nandarani did not publicise the names of
people with whom she slept. Well, Nanadarani did not have the talent
to write! Neither was she educated. That's where the difference lies.
Hypocrite, libertine literary figures from West Bengal (or is it Waste
Bengol), Samresh Majumder, Shirsherndu Mukherjee, Sunil Ganguly, et
al, are very much disturbed by the revelation of ugly truth about
them. As such, these hypocrite writers, who once applauded Taslima for
her bold anti-Bangladesh and anti-Islamic stand, are now busy
comparing her to street prostitutes. These hypocrite writers and
anti-Bangladesh media mouthpiece like Anandabazar accorded Taslima
with Anandabazar award twice in the past. But now they have taken the
back seat. Since all leftist writers, whose names have appeared in
Taslima's book, are known to be affiliated with Awami League (a
fascist political party known for its close connection with Indian
hindu fundamentalists in power), Samresh Majumder went ahead to play a
political card, "If the book Nirbachito Kalom can be trusted, then
Taslima stands out to be a secularist. But she now has strengthened
the hand of BNP by bringing into limelight the dirty characters of all
Awami League loyal intellectualists (leftists) in the book. When
someone sells herself defying ethics or shame, then it is to be
understood that she must be getting paid from some secret source. Only
a sex maniac can write such a book as Dikhandito."
"I have read the book Taslima sent me. She has written about her
personal relationship with reputed and not-so-reputed authors which is
in bad taste. Moreover, it can spell trouble in the family of those
concerned," said writer Sunil Gangopadhyay.
Social activist Maitreyee Chatterjee attacks the hypocrisy in our
society. "Our middle class Bengali intellectuals are hypocrites. They
are conservatives who don't mind having sexual escapades but nobody
should know," she said.
Taslima made it clear in her 'Ka' book that she wrote her novel Lajja
from the perspective of a hindu. Upon insinuation from her Indian
patrons, she welcomed Indian hegemony and expansionist design of
establishing 'Undivided India' (ram rajya' as envisioned by fanatic
hindu fundamentalists starting from Nehru) at the cost of sovereignty
of Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Taslima is not likened by her former patron Sheikh Hasina anymore,
because Taslima has made snide remarks about her too -- "I got to meet
Hasina one more time when she invited several poets to have a lunch
with her. Shamsur Rahman, Sunil Ganguly, Syed Shamsul Haque, Belal
Choudhury and myself were present in that lunch gathering. For long
time, Hasina spoke about her worhtless husband in great detail. Hasina
told the invitees that her husband Wazed Mian frequently calls Khaleda
Zia and speaks juicy stuff."
Although Taslima did not mention anything about the old hag libertine
self-exiled London-based journalist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury in her
book, we can find the ugly side of his character involving Taslima
Nasrin in another place. Journalist Naimul Huq of London-based Daily
Deshbarta wrote,
"I had the opportunity of meeting Gaffar Choudhury while working
together for the same newspaper in London. As such, I had the chance
to know him very closely. So, I felt compulsion to propound a little
bit of his ugly character in front of our countrymen.
It is an incident that took place seven years ago. I was then living
in England. I used to work as a free-lance journalist with the
Deshbarta… Gaffar Choudhury used to frequent the office of Daily
Deshbarta located in Bricklane - an East London suburb densely
populated by Bangladeshis. He used to engage in chat session ('adda')
to recount his glorious days from the past. It was January 12, 1997.
The editor of Daily Deshbarta went to Barmingham as part of his work.
He instructed me to inform Gaffar Choudhury to pick up his paycheck.
Next day, Gaffar Choudhury came to the newspaper office in the midst
of chilly cold weather. After salutation, I asked him to take a seat.
At one point, he asked me for the telephone. I asked him where he
would make the call. He responded, "To Taslima Nasrin in Paris." I
went to my desk after handing out the telephone set to him.
Within a matter of two minutes, Gaffar Choudhury started his love-talk
with Taslima Nasrin. The entire session of love-talk was replete with
vulgarity. I couldn't believe that a man in his late sixties would
become desperate to engage in such type of vulgar conversation (phone
sex) to enjoy the last years of his life. He became totally oblivious
of me who was sitting next to his desk. I failed to draw his attention
by coughing several times. I lost my patience after he had started
undressing Taslima in his phone sex talk. At one point, I was
compelled to tell him to finish his conversation. He went mad as hell
at this. Slamming the telephone set with brute force, he left the
office thereafter. I was stunned by his intimate relationship with the
controversial writress Taslima Nasrin.
The pervert character of Gaffar Choudhury, revealed on that day,
struck me really bad. I used to take him as an ideal man from my
childhood. To me, he was the pinnacle of journalism - a mountain-high
encyclopedia. But all my dreams centering him shattered in a matter of
seconds. Awe-struck, I kept thinking, "Is it really possible?" (Ekjon
Gaffar Choudhury : Mukh O Mukhosh by Naimul Haque Piklu, Daily
Inqilab, Sep 7, 2003)
Taslima married and divorced thrice. She also didn't care a little
about sleeping around with her divorced husbands.
She expressed her depravity of sex in this way, "I feel very guilty.
But how can I restrain myself? How can I refuse Kaiser if he
volunteers to give me companionship while I am deprived of love? Else
I shall have to be a nun. How can I restrain myself from not
satisfying my sexual need? After all, I am a human being, not a
deity." (Ka, p.410). Who was this man Kaiser? He was neither a doctor
nor a writer. He was then a chairman of Gazipur subdistrict during
Ershad's regime. Bahauddin, editor of Calcuta-based newspaper Ajkal,
came to meet Taslima in her house. Kaiser kept coming back to Taslima
after Bahauddin left for Calcutta. Taslima had no problem establishing
sexual relationship with the married Kaiser. Taslima narrated her
sexual experience with Kaiser in these words, "I started to love
Kaiser soon after bringing him in my bedroom. He used to give me deep
sexual pleasure. Like all other men, Kaiser was not habituated of
finding out whether I was aroused or not. But I taught him to do so. I
told him to arouse me by touching every inch of my body. He started to
get pleasure by giving pleasure to me. It was me who enjoyed him -
whenever and however." Taslima gave her sexual encounter with Kaiser
in the Circuit House of Jamalpur in this way, "That day I was
transformed into a teenager of sixteen years old. My sex-charged body
repeatedly reached orgasm throughout the night. I never saw Kaiser
enjoying so much before. I had taken Kaiser into my bedroom and kept
the door locked while my sister, brother-in-law, Kulsum and even my
mother were present in the house. Nobody, not even my mother, uttered
a single word about it. It was my mother, not me, who would hide
herself whenever I would come out of the room; she used to pretend of
not seeing me; she did not prevent me from enjoying sexual happiness.
My mother wanted to see me happy - sexually satisfied." She said, "I
think that a woman can maintain her chastity even after maintaining
sexual relationship with ten men." (p.373).
Enough said. I shall now end this piece with an interesting BSS news
report.
Taslima sued in Kolkata
Court orders seizure of all copies of novel
BSS, NEW DELHI, November 21, 2003
A poet in Kolkata has filed a Rs 11-crore suit against controversial
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, accusing her of defamation and
character assassination in her latest autobiographical novel, an
Indian news network reported recently.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the Kolkata High Court appointed a Receiver to
take into custody all copies of the already-published novel wherever
these may be available.
The NDTV reported that the Kolkata literary circle had rallied round
the poet in "the most expensive literary litigation of recent times".
"Taslima Nasreen has written fictitious fantasies about sexual
involvement. I was shocked. I was surprised how anyone could write
like this. I feel this is an invasion of someone’s privacy. This is
unethical, illegal, immoral," NDTV quoted the Kolkata poet, S Hasmat
Jalal, as saying.
Several prominent writers and poets in Kolkata said Taslima Nasreen
would "no more find Kolkata as welcoming as in the past".
"You know why this book will sell? Primarily because it is
pornographic," writer Dibyendu Palit said.
The NDTV reported that the Kolkata literary circle was worried about
what might be in the soon-to-be-printed sequel of the novel
Dikhandita.
Apprehension is, the second part of her book, would be a kiss and tell
on the Kolkata literary giants, the very people who have nurtured her
into the Frankenstein Taslima Nasreen is now, commented executive and
voracious reader Indrani Sen.
"This is not literature. It may be good reading, if you are interested
in scandals of some writers. But it is not literature," said writer
Sunil Gangapaddhaya.
The expected part will be the third in Taslima Nasreen’s
autobiographical series titled "Amar Meyebela [My Girlhood]".
Most Kolkata writers believe that Taslima Nasreen has "gone too far",
reported the NDTV.
Taslima Nasreen, although relatively unknown as a writer at that time,
was brought to prominence by a prominent Bangla daily of Kolkata after
it chose her for its literary award in the early 1990s, almost as a
retaliatory step after the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh declined it
the award.
The Bangla Academy, founded in the wake of the historic Language
Movement, had politely pointed out that it cannot accept any such
award.
The literary as well as progressive circles were surprised and shocked
when she was chosen for the award.
The matter did not end there. She was provided enough patronage and
publicity to help her grow into a global celebrity, an Indian Bangali
journalist said, on condition of anonymity.
"Now she has really grown into a Frankenstein," he said. "Taslima
Nasreen is a creation of the media.
"It is perfect example of how one can thrive on purely slanderous and
provocative writings without substance, and media backing. Her initial
promoters in Kolkata must be lamenting now.
"No writer in South Asia ever got so much of publicity as she did.
Does she really deserve it?" Taslima Nasreen’s antics could have
achieved her fame but it definitely did harm to progressive elements
in Bangladesh, and maybe also beyond the region, he said.
"It’s quite shocking that it took such a long time to realise it all."
Enzo
wrote:
>Taslima Nasrin bares herself & others with her latest autobiography
>"Ka"
>snip<
Thanks for taking the trouble to assembly your insightful report.
Regards,
Enzo
Sharia [Islamic Law] News Watch 86 - dd. 30 Nov 03
msg-id <t06ksvg7i2o4l1ag8...@4ax.com>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shariawatch/message/86
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=367659
Luke Aniketh
> unethical, illegal, immoral," NDTV quoted the Kolkata poet, S Hasmat
> Jalal, as saying.
>
> Several prominent writers and poets in Kolkata said Taslima Nasreen
> would "no more find Kolkata as welcoming as in the past".
>
> "You know why this book will sell? Primarily because it is
> pornographic," writer Dibyendu Palit said.
>
> The NDTV reported that the Kolkata literary circle was worried about
> what might be in the soon-to-be-printed sequel of the novel
> Dikhandita.
>
> Apprehension is, the second part of her book, would be a kiss and tell
> on the Kolkata literary giants, the very people who have nurtured her
> into the Frankenstein Taslima Nasreen is now, commented executive and
> voracious reader Indrani Sen.
>
> "This is not literature. It may be good reading, if you are interested
> in scandals of some writers. But it is not literature," said writer
> Sunil Gangapaddhaya.
>
> autobiographical series titled "Amar Meyebela [My Girlhood]".
>
> Most Kolkata writers believe that Taslima Nasreen has "gone too far",
> reported the NDTV.
>
> Taslima Nasreen, although relatively unknown as a writer at that time,
> was brought to prominence by a prominent Bangla daily of Kolkata after
> it chose her for its literary award in the early 1990s, almost as a
> retaliatory step after the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh declined it
> the award.
>
> The Bangla Academy, founded in the wake of the historic Language
> Movement, had politely pointed out that it cannot accept any such
> award.
>
> The literary as well as progressive circles were surprised and shocked
> when she was chosen for the award.
>
> The matter did not end there. She was provided enough patronage and
> publicity to help her grow into a global celebrity, an Indian Bangali
> journalist said, on condition of anonymity.
>
> "Now she has really grown into a Frankenstein," he said. "Taslima
> Nasreen is a creation of the media.
>
> "It is perfect example of how one can thrive on purely slanderous and
> provocative writings without substance, and media backing. Her initial
> promoters in Kolkata must be lamenting now.
>
> "No writer in South Asia ever got so much of publicity as she did.
> achieved her fame but it definitely did harm to progressive elements
> in Bangladesh, and maybe also beyond the region, he said.
>
She loves sex....infact she is a nympo...from an early age she has
been plumbing whatever sharp objects she could lay her hands on...in
her early days she screwed that guy in mymensing so badly that he lost
his mind..and that man from mymensing now only sing...sad (shouldn't
have lost his heart on her) but lucky (the first to penetrate
her)...so all these literary figures now
lamenting....ha..ha...ha...why?...they had their good share of
enjoyment...her figure is not that bad...i wish i was one of her
plumber...applying a few kamasutric technique...or probably with her
help introduce a few more new laws of Kama...enhancing our classic
indian heritage which we exported to the world to teach the laws of
natural enjoyment...what a a lot of orgasmic techniques...the lovers
of world should pay a royalty to us...infact i think india should
patent kamasutra...if these laws were invented by greedy capitalist
america they would've patented this a long ago...they even tried to
patent our neem tree..the greedy arseholes...no wonder they've a
murderous moron as their president....
aw, taslima if u r reading this...can i've a little share of
enjoyment...i'm a good plumber (that's been certified by various
holes)...i can go on on and on until u would shiver with joy...and
joyous tears rolling from your eyes meeting the wetness of the black
island... and u screaming...shouting....ye..ye...baby..i'm in
ecstacy...bloody mary...virgin ghost....holy plumbing......
Bibek
Check out the banned bok section in her official website:
http://www.taslimanasrin.com
On 3 Dec 2003 04:20:51 -0800, ani...@yahoo.co.uk (Hole Plumber Luke
Aniketh) wrote:
>She loves sex....infact she is a nympo...from an early age she has
>been plumbing whatever sharp objects she could lay her hands on...in
>her early days she screwed that guy in mymensing so badly that he lost
>his mind..and that man from mymensing now only sing...sad (shouldn't
>have lost his heart on her) but lucky (the first to penetrate
>her)...so all these literary figures now
>lamenting....ha..ha...ha...why?...they had their good share of
>enjoyment...her figure is not that bad...i wish i was one of her
>plumber...applying a few kamasutric technique...or probably with her
>help introduce a few more new laws of Kama...enhancing our classic
>indian heritage which we exported to the world to teach the laws of
>natural enjoyment...what a a lot of orgasmic techniques...the lovers
>of world should pay a royalty to us...infact i think india should
>patent kamasutra...if these laws were invented by greedy capitalist
>america they would've patented this a long ago...they even tried to
>patent our neem tree..the greedy arseholes...no wonder they've a
>murderous moron as their president....
>aw, taslima if u r reading this...can i've a little share of
>enjoyment...i'm a good plumber (that's been certified by various
>holes)...i can go on on and on until u would shiver with joy...and
>joyous tears rolling from your eyes meeting the wetness of the black
>island... and u screaming...shouting....ye..ye...baby..i'm in
>ecstacy...bloody mary...virgin ghost....holy plumbing......