An open letter to Mrs. Nasrin

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Dear Mrs. Nasrin,

First of all let me clarify that I am not going to treat you with contempt in this mail. And neither am I going to curse/criticize you for your insightful commentaries on Islam and Muslims.

To begin with, I have always wished to meet you in person to discuss your objections with you. I have often wondered the circumstances which have forced you to take the extreme step of becoming an atheist. I have read things about your past but sadly Mr. Wikipedia classifies your claim as

She took up writing and as usual the only way to get popularity was to write against Islam and instantly she got.

In her autobiography, Nasrin mentioned that she was sexually assaulted by her relatives and other men in her early years, which is yet to be proved.

I never trust the Wiki because it can be edited by any hate monger to undermine the classical pieces of literature you have penned down so far. The log of that page reveals that it was last accessed by someone from Hyderabad. Ah, Hyderabad! You must be having bitter memories of that place after few fanatics decided to violently protest. But then I suppose you are now accustomed to these protest, only the chappal and shoes part must have been new, right? I can understand your frustration at being ‘womanhandled’ by a bunch of morons who were trying to keep the flag of Islam high by committing an act which calls for a severe condemnation. Let me apologize on their behalf. Plus you already have the support of other champions of ‘freedom of expression’…their talks must have pacified you. Did Salman call? I have heard rumours that Padma has finally decided to ditch him. Any ideas on the rumoured affair of Padma with someone with hair? Poor guy…he really needs a female support at this age. You see Salmans usually have a tough time finding a perfect match for themselves. Perhaps the myriad curses thrown at him from across the globe must have had their desire effect.

Oops! I have diverged from the main subject of this email.

I was talking about the factor that might have been responsible for your extreme view regarding Islam. Let me narrate you a real story of my aunt from Bangladesh. Those were the times of riots between Bengalis and Biharis. Biharis were being driven out of Bangladesh because occupied all the top positions in the government and they were also have contempt for the native Bengalis. My aunt’s family was one such privileged family. The events of 1971 brought freedom to Bangladesh but it took away happiness from many Bihari families who were in East Pakistan. Our family lost wealth in the 1947 riots and then family members in 1971 riots. The irony was that we lost members at a place which we thought to be safe for Muslims.

It was a summer afternoon in 1971. My aunt’s family was at home because of the violence outside on the streets of Dhaka. They were planning to leave that place but were unable to do so because the Bengali Muslim driver would guarantee them safety. He convinced them that they are safe inside the home and that he would personally come forward in case on a mob attack. I think you would have been 9 years old then (Again Mr. Wiki tells me this). My aunt was 3 or 4 year old.

As my aunt narrates, suddenly the main gate of the mansion flew open. The angry mob of Bengali Muslims, armed with swords and knives, entered the premises. To the family’s surprise, the driver was leading the crowd of rowdies. The family, mother, father and my aunt, hid themselves in places where they could manage. My aunt’s mom hid her beneath her clothes; she was wearing a saare at that time. What happened next is history and I find it too disturbing to narrate. When news of this barbarity reached my home, they were shattered. My grandfather rushed to Dhaka to collect the bodies and to his utter surprise he found my aunt still alive. She was unconscious and she was still beneath her mother’s cloth. Little girl somehow survived the attack. But she developed a deep rooted hatred for Muslims. During the riots it was often clamored that to bath in the blood of a Bihari is like making Hajj. Anyone would have developed hatred for Islam but she didn’t. Her hatred was more directed at Bengalis.

The reason why I mentioned this story was to prove that actions of few cannot be taken of the whole community. And plus, Mrs. Nasrin, there are people who have perhaps seen worse than you but are still practicing Muslims. Why should you blame the religion for acts of few morons who are trying to manipulate religion for their own needs. Quran has been misinterpreted to extract political mileage out of it.

I must also tell you that most of your logic against Islam is based on your limited knowledge. I have replied once (Answering Taslima Nasrin) to your article in Outlook. If a person like me, who is a novice as far as Islamic knowledge is concerned, can refute your claims then imagine your situation in front of learned men. You are not achieving anything by your critique of Islam.

It’s not that you have been the only victim of this mayhem caused by these fanatics, there are millions others. Think about present day Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. Do you think that people suffer because of them being Muslims alone? Do they blame Islam?

I do understand that the Islamic world, particularly our South Asia, has been held captive to inane logic of Mullahs. They are the same Mullahs who once cursed Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and called him an infidel. Their ignorance has pushed the present day Muslim to deep chasm of poverty, ignorance and illiteracy. The result is that Muslim youth of today finds himself in a precarious situation, would this act of mine lead to infidelity? Should I study? And why should I work hard when I have to die one day. All these have been a result of centuries of ignorance on the part of torch bearers of Muslim society, the Ulemas. It’s upto US to fight this ignorance and be a guide to the Muslims.

See I am just asking you to think and argue logically. Faithfreedom have made big fools of themselves and I am sure you are sensible enough not to associate yourself with them. Islam is too big a thing to understand, particularly by an individual based on self study, and nothing can deter the Quran and Hadeeth. I am sure you know that the safety of Quran (along with the safety of Mecca) has been guaranteed by Allah (SWT). No one can change a word in the holy book. The various huffaz (people who have memorized the Quran by heart) and alims can trash your criticism of Islam.

The reason why you can’t be the Sir Syed Ahmed Khan of 21^st century is because you are trying to venture into a dark zone without a light. Sir Syed wanted to encourage education because education was the backbone of Muslim societies previously. He fanned emotion based on true understand of the Quran. He never had any vicious motives of trying to divide the Muslim society and the result is in front of you. He is one of the most respected personalities among Indian Muslims.

It’s my earnest request to you that you should request to you that you reconsider your position. Your present acts are not leading to anything but much more severe criticism of Islam based on freedom of expression. You are basically trying to hurt emotions and the champions of freedom of expression are trying to apply the American model here.

More on that in my next mail

BTW a personal request, please never wear this crappy jeans

Yours truly,

Someone, somewhere but concerned.

Tagged as: Taslima-Nasreen