The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Taslima’s exit

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Monday, Mar 24, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Taslima’s exit

Finally, the inevitable has happened. Taslima Nasreen has been forced to leave India for Europe. Hounded out of her own country by fundamentalist and ultra-conservative elements for airing her views on religion, gender rights and secularism, she had hoped to embrace India as her home. But the establishment thought otherwise.

Extending her visa became an annual torture with sanction being accorded at the proverbial last hour every time. It was as if she had been put on perpetual notice by the powers that be — one more incident, one more wrong turn and you shall be off. Her personal and creative freedom was severely curtailed. Her stay here would have meant the end of the road for her as an author and activist, apart from being a grave threat to her well being. Liberal Europe had to be the obvious choice.

Subhashis Roy,

Kochi

* * *

Taslima’s exit from India is a black spot on its secular image. Providing security to the writer could certainly not have been a problem for a country that spends crores on defence. But she was made to move here and there causing her tremendous embarrassment. Why did the government not analyse all the pros and cons of her stay here before granting her permission?

Mudgal Venkatesh,

Gulbarga

* * *

Taslima did not behave like a guest; she assumed that she could pursue her agenda from India. This was clearly not acceptable. Those who support the Bangladeshi writer should ask themselves what their fate would have been had they been in a similar predicament in her parent country.

S. Kamat,

Bardez

* * *

It was our proud secular nation that gave Taslima asylum when her life was threatened in her country. When religious fundamentalists issued a fatwa against her, the Indian government acted to protect her life. It was necessary to maintain secrecy about her whereabouts for her own safety. If anything, she should thank the government for enabling her to leave the country in one piece. It would be interesting to watch what type of protection she gets in other countries.

P. Surendranath,

Kochi

* * *

I think Taslima’s departure from India is to be welcomed since she was becoming a liability for us. India had better worry about millions of its poor citizens rather than a foreign national.

George Thomas,

Thiruvananthapuram

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