India a tolerant country, says Taslima Nasreen; calls for freedom for writers
New Delhi: Claiming that India was a tolerant country, Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, persecuted and forced out of her country for her work, on Sunday advocated absolute freedom of speech for writers even if it offended sentiments of "some" people.
"I think India is a tolerant country, but some people are intolerant. In every society, there are some people who are intolerant," the author said, referring to the recent violence in Malda in West Bengal, adding that one cannot ignore the aspect of Muslim fundamentalists while taking the case of Hindu fundamentalists.
She went on to say that absolute freedom of speech was necessary even if it offended some people.
"I think, we should have our freedom of expression even if that might offend some people. If we do not open our mouth then society will not evolve. Of course, we should fight against misogyny, religious fundamentalism and all kinds of evil forces only to make a better society," Nasreen said.
The writer was participating in a discussion last evening titled 'Coming of the Age of Intolerance' at the ongoing Delhi Literature Festival at Dilli Haat here.
"People's sentiments were hurt when Raja Ram Mohan Roy was fighting against 'sati'. Many misogynistic sentiments were hurt when Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was trying to educate girl children. But if we criticise fundamentalism, may be fundamentalist sentiments are hurt, so should we shut our mouth?" Nasreen said.
The doctor-turned-author had drawn the ire of the fundamentalists for her controversial books like 'Dwikhandito' and had been exiled from Bangladesh in 1994 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with her novel 'Lajja' (shame).
Former BJP ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni, who was recently attacked by Shiv Sena activists ahead of a book launch ceremony, said while it was important for writers to be able to exercise their freedom of expression, absolute freedom could only be exercised with responsibility.
"There is no freedom whatsoever to show any religion in bad light knowing that it will hurt sentiments and insult others. I completely disagree that writers should have absolute freedom. Freedom must be exercised with responsibility," he said.
