My differences with Taslima Nasreen
By Justice Katju
I am an admirer of the Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen. I regard her as a brave and honest person In her book .’ Lajja ‘ she boldly told the truth about terrible persecution and atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh after the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article13546.html
I am against persecution or atrocities on anyone, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian or anyone else.
But secularism cannot be a one way traffic. Secularism does not mean that persecution of Muslims is bad, but persecution of Hindus all right. No one should be persecuted, and everyone should be able to live with dignity and honour. In particular, the hallmark of a civilized society is that minorities therein can live honourably.
Shame on those idiotic bigots who have hounded her. Long live Taslima Nasreen
I was in touch with Taslima Nasrin for quite some time.
I had differences with her, pursuant to my appeal to non Muslims to observe one day’s roza during Ramzan ( and to non Hindus to observe one day’s fast during Navratri ), to which she objected as she said it was appeasement of religion.
I admire Taslima for her bravery in highlighting the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh in her novel ‘ Lajja ‘. Like her, I too am against atrocities on anyone, and like her, I too am an atheist.
But with respect to her I wish to say that she has no scientific understanding of the social basis of religion.
http://justicekatju.blogspot.com/2016/06/taslima-nasreen-is-brave-but-stupid-i.html
http://justicekatju.blogspot.com/2016/07/religion-and-science-are-diametrically.html
Taslima has written ” Religion is anti women, anti science, anti human and anti progress “
Even assuming that much of what she says is correct, what she overlooks are two things :
1. Most people in the world are very poor and live in such terrible and miserable conditions that were it not for religion they would go mad. Religion gives them psychological support, without which they would go crazy or commit suicide.
So we cannot abolish religion : it will disappear automatically when people get decent lives, which is only possible when we set up a just social order throughout the world ( which may take upto 100 years hence ). Then they will have no need for religion or God.
2. Even for people who are not poor, e.g. businessmen, the chance factor is such an important factor that it gives rise to the belief in supernatural forces which control our lives.
For example, there may be losses in a business for various reasons beyond the control of the businessman. So he believes in some god and propitiates Him, to avoid losses.
The chance factor is still a very powerful factor in our lives. We plan something, but something else happens. So we believe that there is some supernatural force ( or forces ) controlling our lives.
The truth is that the chance factor is still important because we are still at a very primitive stage of scientific development, as compared to the situation 100 years or 200 years hence, when science will have grown enormously. Then we will be able to largely control our lives, and what we plan will happen. And then there will be no need of God or other supernatural entities.
Taslima, though a brave person, has no understanding of all this, and by her sometimes emotional intemperate remarks damages the great cause ( of women’s emancipation and scientific thinking ) which she is fighting for.
I have said that all religions are superstitions. But I have also said that I respect all religions. Some people find a contradiction here. I submit there is none.
When I say I respect all religions, I mean that I respect the right of everyone to believe whatever he/she wants to believe, and therefore I am a strong supporter of religious freedom. But as for myself, I am a purely scientific person, and so have a materialistic belief
On Wednesday, 1 July 2015, Taslima Nasrin wrote to me ( from an undisclosed place in Delhi where she was living ) :
You are invited at my place for fish ( I had told her I love fish )
I request you not to misunderstand me. If you read me more, you could see that I fight for people’s right to believe in any religion or ideology they like. Does not matter whether I respect those religions.
With warm respect
http://freethoughtblogs.com/taslima/
http://twitter.com/#!/taslimanasreen
https://www.facebook.com/nasreen.taslima
http://muktobhabna.blogspot.in/2012/12/blog-post.html
