Kolkata: Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen is again in the midst of controversy with several Muslim social and political groups demanding ban on the sale and display of her books at the Kolkata Book Fair, which is due to end on February 10.
In letters written to the organisers of the fair, Publishers & Booksellers Guild, Kolkata, the Indian Union Muslim League (West Bengal state) chief Shahanshah Jehangir, West Bengal state president of Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party Vijay Upadhyay, and joint convenor of Milli Ittehad Parishad, West Bengal, Abdul Aziz, have demanded that no books written by Taslima Nasreen be either sold or displayed at the Kolkata Book Fair that began on January 30.
The IUML leader in his letter has gone to the extent of casting aspersions on the character of Taslima Nasreen.
In his letter, Shahanshah Jehangir, the state president, raised objections over allowing display of books written by Taslima by saying: "Your pampering(sic) this icon of evil and blasphemy, a lady whose self admission depicts low moral integrity reflected in her own personal life, will only contaminate (sic) a culture of decadence in our system while adding to communal tension and distrust.
"We are confident of her being sponsored by Anti-Islam and Zionist forces, is determined to hurt the sovereignty of secular India, hence waging an evil war to defame Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and weaving a web of communal conflicts....
"Please note if you fail to comply to our request to maintain peace and communal harmony by inviting this infamous exponent of repulsive vulgarity then the Indian Union Muslim League will not sit idle and resume to massive demonstration and public agitation in your book fair premises."
The Samajwadi Party state unit chief wrote asking the organisers not to allow sale or promotion of books by any writer insulting any religion in particular. "I am speaking about Taslima Nasreen. Because she has hurt the religious feelings of minorities through her writings. Therefore, if any book by Taslima Nasreen is sold or displayed, then any untoward incident may happen tarnishing the image of Kolkata, which is not acceptable to any civilized society.
"I therefore, would request you not to allow sale or promotion of books by Taslima Nasreen at the book fair this year and play a leading role in protecting the image of Bengal".
The letter by a nondescript outfit called Milli Ittehad Parishad, West Bengal says: "It is well known that among a section of the Muslim youth there is pent of (sic) anger and hatred against Ms. Nasreen and untoward incident may take place at the Book Fair if her books are displayed. I, therefore,...request you not to allow any stall to display books written by Taslima Nasreen."
The organisers merely forwarded these letters to People's Book Society, that is selling Taslima's books at its stall. Despite these threats, Taslima's books were lapped up by eager visitors who attended the fair.
Writing in her Facebook account, Taslima Nasreen said: "Political parties in West Bengal had tried to ensure that not a single of my books was displayed at the Kolkata Book Fair. The organisers did not say a word against such groups, did not even say they believe in freedom of expression, did not say they will not go against the right of a writer to express her opinion. They only forwarded the letters to my publishers, and orally cautioned them not to display my book. Big political parties also threatened that my books should not be displayed, but they did this orally, without writing letters. They don't believe in soft action.
"People of Kolkata feel proud about their city being the most progressive one in India, but I don't have any illusions about this city any more", writes Taslima Nasreen.
The Bengali writer is staying in exile for the last 21 years, and she is presently staying in Delhi under surveillance of central agencies.
