Lajja

by Taslima Nasrin
This entry was created for the Fall 2014 semester by Brennan York.
Why Banned: Bad for Gods and Government

Banning History:

"Lajja", a book about anti-Hindu riots following the destruction of a mosque, is permanently banned in only one place: the country of Bangladesh. After it's publication in 1993, even though it sold 50,000 copies, before became too widespread across the country, the Bengali government struck it down for its radical commentary on Islam. Even after it was banned, the author tried to sign copies at a book fair, but was physically attacked, and then prohibited to return to the book fair. While the novel is banned in the one country, it has been translated to other languages and celebrates success as a literary work, becoming a bestseller in Europe and America, and has been translated into dozens of languages, unchallenged and unbanned around the world. Its banning and the subsequent threats to the author's life have been likened to the situation of Salam Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses", which was also condemned by Islamic Fundamentalists. It grew to Lajja was not the only book of Taslima Nasrin's to have been banned by the Bengali government; several other works of hers have been banned, including her biography, and in 2007, she was blacklisted from the country, unable to be published. In 2014, the author claimed, despite the reason it was banned in Bangladesh, she did not criticize Islam in the book, though she is known for her secular views. Instead, she claims it was a protest against the unnecessary violence committed in religion's name; The book says directly to this effect, "let another name for religion be humanism."

Author Bio

Taslima Nasrin was born to a Muslim family in Eastern Pakistan in 1962- the area which would become Bangladesh in 1971. While she earned a medical degree, she began writing at the age of 13. After a few publications, she began writing columns for newspapers that supported women's rights and challenged Muslim religious doctrine. Her position was unrelenting; she believed that religion was outdated and should be replaced with a civil code that promoted equality. She began winning literary rewards in spite of some criticism. However, in 1990, Islamic fundamentalists began to demonstrate against her. The newspapers she worked for had their offices broken into, as well. She was forced to quit her job after the government said she would have to quit writing to keep it; they also took away her passport. In 1993, she published the novel "Lajja", which was banned by the Bengali government. Islamic Fundamentalists made death threats against her now, putting a price on her head. Over 300,000 of them gathered to petition for her to die, and strikes all across the country called for the same. After numerous complaints against her, the government eventually would issue a warrant for her arrest, charging her of hurting people's religious feelings. Nasrin went into hiding until she was granted bail, but was made to leave the country entirely. Since, she has tried living in India, but was forced from there because of threats from Islamic extremists again, going to Europe. Today, she lives in India again, in New Delhi.

Discussion Questions

- The name of the book is "Lajja", which translates to 'Shame' in Bengali. Is this title more indicative of the shame the Dutta family feels due to having to hide their identities as 'Hindus' or the shame that Sudhamoy would feel if they abandoned their country, Bangladesh, and fled to India?

- The characters in Lajja are fictional, but the events surrounding the book did take place. Throughout the novel, the author uses the characters to exposit facts from these events almost like a work of journalism. What effect does this have on the story and why is was banned by the Bengali government?

- What role does patriotism play in this novel, and why is Sudhamoy so adamant against leaving Bangladesh?

- The Duttas live in fear of persecution by Muslim extremists because they are identified as Hindus, yet Sudhamoy and Suranjan identify as atheists. What statement is the author making with these characters being threatened by the religious majority?

- Throughout the book, Suranjan loses hope of peacefully staying in Bangladesh, overwhelmed by violence and atrocities; he gets to the point where he wonders if life is pointless. What does this say about him as a character, as well as the Muslim extremists' violent reactions to the destruction of the Babri Masjid?