Do you know Taslima Nasreen? Can you tell who is she?

Question

Do you know Taslima Nasreen? Can you tell who is she?

Answer 1

Taslima Nasrin also spelled Taslima Nasreen and popularly referred to as 'Taslima', her first name, rather than 'Nasreen' (born 25 August 1962 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh) is a Bengali Bangladeshi ex-doctor turned author, feminist and describes herself as a secular humanist.Her own experience of sexual abuse during adoloscence and her work as a gynaecologist where she routinely examined young girls who had been raped, influenced her a great deal in writing about the treatment of women in IslamFrom a modest literary profile in the late 1980s, she achieved a meteoric rise to global fame by the end of the twentieth century for her feminist views are seen as criticism of Islam and of religion in general. She currently lives in exile in India in a secret place and has received death threats from Islamic fundamentalists at different times.

Contents

[hide]

    * 1 Life and literary career

          o 1.1 Feminist

                + 1.1.1 Controversy surrounding book Ka

    * 2 Censorship

    * 3 Attacks

    * 4 Life in Exile

    * 5 Expulsion from Calcutta

    * 6 Compromise

    * 7 Awards

    * 8 Literature versus political activism

    * 9 Books by Taslima Nasrin

          o 9.1 Poetry

          o 9.2 Essay collections

          o 9.3 Novels

          o 9.4 Autobiography

    * 10 See also

    * 11 References

    * 12 External links

[edit] Life and literary career

Taslima was born into a devout Muslim family.[4] She studied medicine at the Mymensingh Medical College and after graduating in 1986, she worked as a government physician until 1994.

She began writing poetry while she was still at high school and published her first anthology of poems titled Shikore Bipul Khudha (Hunger in the Roots) in 1986. It was an anthology of 38 poems composed between 1980 and 1984. She specialized in writing short lyrics based on personal experience.

Cover of Taslima's debut book of poems Shikore Bipul Khudha published 1986.

Cover of Taslima's debut book of poems Shikore Bipul Khudha published 1986.

She succeeded in drawing the attention of a wider readership when she started writing columns in newspaper Khabarer Kagoj encouraged by her second husband Naimul Islam Khan whom she married after divorcing poet Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah in 1988. Her alleged anti-Islam writings caused controversy throughout Bangladesh, her feminist stance began to crystallize during the course of these articles.

Her literary debut in the genre of fiction began with the publication of a 76 page novella titled Lajja, (a Bangla word meaning shame) where she, through graphic description of the rape of a Hindu girl by a Muslim man, purported to symbolize marginalization of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Taslima subsequently revised the novella, restructuring and substantiating with more information, it is now a more than 200 pages book. The Government banned the book and Islamic fundamentalists declared a death sentence. In 1993, a case was filed in the court of law against Taslima, charging her with blasphemy. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued and Taslima went into hiding to avoid arrest. After two months she surrendered to the High Court, sought bail, left the country and went into exile after bail was granted. Since 1994 she has lived in many countries in exile including France, Sweden and India. In the meanwhile, she has published a number of fictional and autobiographical accounts, in addition to poetry. Her autobiographical writings have also proved to be provocative and faced governmental bans in India as well as Bangladesh. Taslima was penning her sixth autobiographical book, Nai Kichu Nei (There is nothing), but the continued movement against her throught 2007 and expulsion from Calcutta disrupted further writing.

Cover of Amar Meyebela in English (translation by Gopa Majumder).

Cover of Amar Meyebela in English (translation by Gopa Majumder).

The author's other autobiographical works are Amar Meyebela (My girlhood), Utal Hawa (Wild wind), Dwikhandito (Split up into two). Sei Sob Andhakar (Those dark days) and Ami Bhalo Nei, Tumi Bhalo Theko Desh (I am not well, you remain well my country).

[edit] Feminist

Taslima's feminist stance is said to evolve mainly around her criticism of Islam. Perceived criticism of Islam and the treatment of women in a country like Bangladesh which has a pre-dominantly Muslim population was considered to be provocative. Her books have led to vocal condemnation by Islamic fundamentalists and is also said to have antagonized moderate Muslims.

In 1994, organized groups identified as Islamic fundamentalists, demanded her execution after she was quoted in publication The Statesman stating that "…the Koran should be revised thoroughly." Taslima made a statement denying this.[5] While the government did not take any action against those who had issued the threats, a case was filed in a court of law against Taslima, charging her with blasphemy. When an arrest warrant was issued Taslima went into hiding to avoid arrest. After two months she surrendered to a higher court, left the country and went into exile after securing bail. She lived in Stockholm, among other cities for a long time and, in 2004, decided to settle in Calcutta.

Cover of Taslima's book Ka.

Cover of Taslima's book Ka.

[edit] Controversy surrounding book Ka

Autobiographical books of Taslima raised controversy not only because of her attacks on Islam but also for narratives involving the private lives of different people, mainly from the literary circle. Taslima candidly described her intimate sexual relationship with a number of persons and indicated them by name and was said to have been implying that they had sought to be intimate with her. Published in 2003, Ka, her third autobiographical book, was the first to raise such issues. Taslima came under severe attack by several progressive writers and intellectuals who described Ka as a book written with the "business aspect in mind". The 400-page book was described as nothing but pornography or "autobiographical Kama Sutra" by the left-leaning newspaper "The Hindu". [6]

On 9 November 2003, poet Syed Shamsul Haq filed a suit against Taslima Nasreen and six others, claiming compensation for what he claimed were defamatory remarks against him in her book Ka. His complaint is that Taslima mentioned in the book that the plaintiff had taken her and her sister to Comilla Shalban Bihar and stayed in the guesthouse of Comilla Bonunnayan Daftar. He also complained that Taslima Nasreen, then living in the United States, wrote that during their stay in a guesthouse in Kaptai, he had visited the bathroom many times and she had found him throwing up in the toilet, as he was drunk. Taslima asserted that she was too scared to stay with him in the same room. According to the complaint, Taslima wrote in her novel that he had an illicit relationship with his sister-in-law and had suffered heartbreak, when she married another person. The plaintiff, described such remarks as defamatory and appealed to the court for seizure of all copies of the book and measures to halt its further sale. Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan and advocate Monwar Hossain moved the suit on behalf of Shamsul Haq. [7] It may be noted that Ka, published in Bangladesh, is a self-censored version of Dwikhonditp published in India. Dwikhonditp is said to contain direct and derogatory comments on the Islamic Prophet Muhammed (according to Islamic Sharia law, criticism of Muhammad is haraam and punishable by execution).[8]. The latter was also banned in India by the Calcutta High Court in the communist-run state of West Bengal on 18 November 2004.

In addition to poet-novelist Syed Shamsul Haq, many others who were implicated in Ka have come out with vehement protest accusing Taslima of deliberate character assassination. They have also claimed that Taslima has told only half the story to hide her own role in the game. Among them publisher Iftekher Rasul George published a book titled Kanyakumarider choukhe Taslima Nasreen (tr. Taslima Nasreen as viewed by women). Poet Abu Hasan Shahriar forwarded his rebuttal with documentary evidence in a book titled Ordho-satya (tr. Only the Half-truth). Shahriar was a classmate of Taslima in the medical college. He happened to be close to Taslima's boy-friend Dr. Habibullah and three of the husbands, namely, poet Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah, newspaper editor Naimul Islam Khan and journalist Minar Mahmood.

[edit] Censorship

Apart from Lajja, Taslima's first four autobiographical volumes have been banned in Bangladesh. Police were told to confiscate all copies of Wild Wind. The Home Ministry in Bangladesh claimed that they "contain anti-Islamic sentiments and statements that could destroy the religious harmony of Bangladesh." Nasreen told the BBC Bengali service there was no freedom of expression in the country. "It is a democratic country but there is no real democracy in Bangladesh". Wild Wind is the sequel to My Girlhood, published in 1999, which was also banned in Bangladesh for blasphemy.[9] In November 2003, the West Bengal government in India banned the sale, distribution and collection of Taslima's Dwikhandito, the third part of her autobiography.[citation needed] However, the ban was lifted by the High Court in September 2004.[citation needed]

[edit] Attacks

Since 1993 Taslima has faced several death threats from Islamic fundamentalists for her criticism of Islam. In 2004, Syed Noorur Rehaman Barkati, the Islamic head priest of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque, admitted offering money to anyone who "blackened" Taslima's face, (face blackening is carried out in India in order to publicly humiliate someone). He also accused her of being a "Jewish spy."[10] In 2005, her attempt to read an anti-war poem entitled "America" to a large right-wing Bengali crowd attending the North American Bengali Conference at Madison Square Garden resulted in her being booed off the stage.[11]

In March 2007, the "All India Ittehad Millat Council" of Bareilly U.P offered 500,000 rupees for her beheading. The group's president, Tauqir Raza Khan, said the only way the bounty would be lifted was if Nasreen "apologises, burns her books and leaves."

On August 9, 2007, Taslima was attacked at the Hyderabad Press Club in the state of Andhra Pradesh.[12] She was there for the launch of her novel Shodh in the Telugu language. Three MLAs of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party were among the 100 male protesters who physically attacked her for what they claim her repeated criticism of Islam[12][13] Akbaruddin Owaisi, also an MLA and MIM floor leader in the Assembly, justified the attacks by saying, "We are not bothered about our MLA status. We are Muslims first. And it's our responsibility to test those who have said anything against Islam in whichever way possible."[14] Taslima, who backed into a corner, said the attack was barbaric but pledged she would not be cowed.[13]

[edit] Life in Exile

Taslima Nasrin

Taslima Nasrin

Taslima's life in exile commenced when she left Bangladesh in 1994 to avoid arrest. As of 2007, Taslima has been living in exile for more than 13 years. Though she is still a citizen of Bangladesh, all the successive governments there have deliberately not taken any step to help her return to the country. She is currently living at an undisclosed location near New Delhi in India [15] on the basis of a periodic visa given by the Indian government. The author has requested the Indian government to grant her Indian citizenship.[16] but as yet the government of India has not responded to her appeal for Indian citizenship. Currently she is unable to return to Bangladesh since she has neither a Bangladeshi passport, nor a visa to enter Bangladesh on her Swedish passport.

In 1993, while she appeared at the airport for traveling to India, her passport was forfeited by the immigration department on a charge of attempting to hide her real profession. Life in India became turbulant in 2007. Incidents in India during 2007 prompted Taslima to begin writing a new book to be titled Narir kono desh nei (A woman has no country).

[edit] Expulsion from Calcutta

The latest blow came in September 2007 when a movement was initiated in West Bengal by Islamic extremists and communist sympathizers demanding expulsion of Taslima from India. As a consequence, she has been forced to leave Calcutta and seek refuge in New Delhi. [17]

A protest, called by the militant Islamist "All India Minority Forum", against granting of Indian visa to Bangladeshi feminist writer Taslim Nasreen turned Kolkata into a scene of flaming vehicles and scampering school children on 21 November 2007, forcing the deployment of army in the city after nearly 15 years. A call for a road-blockade went out of control as thousands of frenzied people from central Kolkata's Muslim-inhabited areas unleashed a free-for-all for hours. Taslima was first moved from Kolkata to Jaipur, a day after violent protests rocked Kolkata over her stay in India. She was then shifted to New Delhi the following day. The Intelligence Bureau kept her in a 'safe house' within a National Security Guards complex in Delhi. [18]

The author's defenders, including some Muslim figures such as Dr Mansoor claim she is being used by the West Bengal government as a way of diverting attention from the dispute between the state and Muslim farmers in the rural district of Nandigram. Fourteen people were killed and reports of further violence have continued to shock India. Taslima said: "I'm writing a lot, but not about Islam, It's not my subject now. This is about politics. In the last three months I have been put under severe pressure to leave Bengal by the police.".[19]

[edit] Compromise

Until November 22, 2007, Taslima lived in the city of Kolkata, India, but was forced to leave the city in a rush, following security concerns raised by a violent agitation by several Muslim groups in the city that were demanding a stay on further extension of her Indian visa. Possibly urged on by the Bengal government, she flew to Rajasthan where she stayed in a hotel in Jaipur for one night. Due to threats by Islamic groups in Rajasthan, she was moved to New Delhi[20] from where she was allegedly moved again to an undisclosed location.

India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured Nasreen a "shelter" in India, but urged her to "refrain from activities and expressions" that may hurt the sentiments of Muslims in India and harm relations with friendly countries. Recognizing the mounting social pressure, Taslima apparently agreed to a compromise formula. On November 30, 2007 Taslima agreed to remove three pages from her book Dwikhondito (Split up into two). The book has been criticized by Muslims as "anti-Islamic". Taslima made a statement saying: It had not been her intention to "hurt anybody's religious sentiments"[ ]"Now that some people in India have said they are upset with what I have said, I have decided to drop the controversial portions of the book and have told the publisher to take necessary action,"[ ]"After these portions are removed, I think there will be no more scope for controversy and all the tension so far caused should die down." Leading writers were said to have welcomed the move.[21]

[edit] Awards

Taslima has received a number of international awards in recognition of her uncompromising demand for freedom of expression. However, the Ananda Purashkar was awarded in 1992 to her as a recognition of her literary achievement. Awards and Honours given to her include the following:

    * Ananda Award, India, 1992

    * Natyasava Award, Bangladesh, 1992

    * Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thoughts from the European Parliament, 1994

    * Human Rights Award from the Government of France, 1994

    * Kurt Tucholsky Prize, Swedish PEN, Sweden, 1994

    * Hellman-Hammett Grant from Human Rights Watch, USA, 1994

    * Humanist Award from Human-Etisk Forbund, Norway, 1994

    * Feminist of the Year from Feminist Majority Foundation, USA, 1994

    * Honorary Doctorate from Ghent University, Belgium, 1995

    * Scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service, Germany, 1995

    * Monismanien Prize from Uppsala University, Sweden, 1995

    * Distinguished Humanist Award from International Humanist and Ethical Union, Great Britain, 1996

    * Humanist Laureate from International Academy for Humanism, USA, 1996

    * Ananda Award, India, 2000

    * Global Leader for Tomorrow, World Economic Forum, 2000

    * Erwin Fischer Award, International League of non-religious and atheists (IBKA), Germany, 2002

    * Free-thought Heroine Award, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA, 2002

    * Fellowship at Carr Centre for Human Rights Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA, 2003

    * UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, 2004

    * Honorary Doctorate from American University of Paris, France, 2005

    * Grand Prix International Condorcet-Aron 2005, from the French-Parliament in Belgium, 2005

Answer 2

A FAMOUS WRITER, FROM BANGLA DESH, LIVING IN INDIA.

Answer 3

what does this have to do with Special Ed?

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Answer 4

Why should I answer when so much have explained a lot about her

Answer 5

"Taslima Nasrin (Bengali: তসলিমা নাসরিন), also spelled Taslima Nasreen and popularly referred to as 'Taslima', her first name, rather than 'Nasreen' (born 25 August 1962 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh) is a Bengali Bangladeshi ex-doctor turned author, feminist and describes herself as a secular humanist.[1] Her own experience of sexual abuse during adoloscence and her work as a gynaecologist[2] where she routinely examined young girls who had been raped, influenced her a great deal in writing about the treatment of women in Islam.[3] From a modest literary profile in the late 1980s, she achieved a meteoric rise to global fame by the end of the twentieth century for her feminist views are seen as criticism of Islam and of religion in general. She currently lives in exile in India in a secret place and has received death threats from Islamic fundamentalists at different times."