Bengali Woman Writes Book, Takes Heat
Dr. Shabbir A. Bashar
Source: Internet Edition of the Daily Star, 12th June, 1999
Bengali Woman Writes Book, Takes Heat
By Julian E. Barnes
MINA Saha Farah, a Bengali dentist who lives and works in
Queens and has written for Bengali newspapers, insists that
when she started out to write a book last November, she
planned it as a critique of organized religion.
But the final product, which Dr. Farah is spending some $8,000
of her own money to publish next week, singles out Islam for
the toughest criticism. It argues that a growing fundamentalism
is blinding Muslim Bengalis, preventing them from joining the
''high-tech revolution'' and prospering economically, and
relegating women to subservient roles.
''People should have the freedom to speak and to think,'' she
said in an interview last week. ''We are become more of a
mosque-based society rather than a free-minded society.''
Dr. Farah's thesis has been raised by many Western scholars But
what is different is her role as a well-known member of the
city's Bengali immigrant community. Since February, when
word of her book and its title, ''God on Trial,'' began circulating
within that community, she has been criticized by some
immigrant groups whose officials disagree with Dr. Farah's
assessment of Islam.
The book, and the angry pre-publication reaction it has
provoked, has brought into sharp relief divisions between
religious and more secular Bengali immigrants over what role
religion should play in America and how freely Bengalis should
criticize Islam or their own community.
''Mina Farah should spend her money and her talents to help
her community, not to divide it,'' said Showkat Ali, the
president of the Bangladesh Journalists Association of North
America, who lives in downtown Brooklyn. ''We all have a
responsibility to our culture.''
Dr. Farah, who was born into a Hindu family and married a
Muslim, said she does not consider herself a member of any
particular faith. In the last few months, she said, telephone
callers to her home have cursed her, called her a nonbeliever
and made vague threats against her family. The owner of the
city's largest Bengali-language bookstore, Bishawajit Saha, said
he had also received threatening calls, although he planned to
stock ''God on Trial'' at his shop, Muktadhara, on 74th Street in
Jackson Heights, Queens.
''Already some people have called, they say you don't do this,''
Mr. Saha said. ''I know it is a controversial book but we respect
democracy.'' Mr. Saha said his store was vandalized in 1992
when he sold the novels of the Bangladeshi writer Taslima
Nasrin, an outspoken critic of Islam. But Dr. Farah's critics say
she should not be compared to Miss Nasrin. ''People might
demonstrate and boycott against her, Abdul Quddus
Chaudhury Mohammad, the director of the Muslim Foundation
of America, said of Dr. Farah.
''They might even excommunicate her. But I don't believe any
illicit action will be taken. People enjoy the freedom of America.
People are not going to jeopardize that.''
--Article ends above ---
--
Shabbir A. Bashar, Ph.D., AMIEE
http://www.betelco.com/bd
NIslam7377
It is very interesting that many of us are debate with the writing of Taslima
Nasreen
and Dr, Mina Farah about Islam / Quraan and Allah. In this regard I would like
to mention about the writing of Indian origin
British non muslim writer Ahmed Rushdi,
who wrote the satanic version or some thing like that. If you ever heard one
Islamic scholar who mastered the religion and had many debate specially about
christianity and judaism. " Mr Ahmed deedat,( May Allah grant him Zannah )who
was asked about this book and ahmed rushdi. I heard he,( Ahmed Deedat replied )
that He is a sick person and his writing should not be a matter of discussion.
So,
We know a hindu person who translated The Quraan into bengali he being hindu
had great respect for the holy Quraan.
Now, Tasleema Nasreen and Dr, Meena Farah how much they know about the Quraan
and Islam ? so, without knowing something if some one talks about that
particular subject is she/he not a fool ?
Now Dr, Meena Farah by doing dentistry business/ practice + doing real state
business becoming liitle bit rich in the Bengali community does not mean she
has accuired the knowledge of phylosophy
and mastered comparative studies in religion.
WE CAN CURSE HER / IGNORE HER I MEAN BOTH and AHMED RUSHDEE
but in the land of Freedom of speech they have the right to speak whatever
they feel like that will matter little to ISLAM and it's followers.
May Allah give them hedayet before their death,
Thanks.
NAZRUL ISLAM