Lajja - Taslima Nasrin

Lajja means shame. Yes, this book is a shame on humanity. As a novel, it tells the story of a Bangladeshi Hindu family, ripped apart by the riots followed by the demolition of  Babri-Masjid in India on December 6, 1992. As a historical document, it chronicles the history of Bangladesh from 1947-1992. According to the author, the book deals with the persecution of Hindus, a religious minority in Bangladesh, by the Muslims who are in the majority. Taslima is so worked up and passionate about her cause that the story line has been pushed aside and the book is crammed with bullet points, facts and data. But the true, chilling and horrifying account of religious extremism, fanaticism and inhuman brutality hits the reader at the right place. The book has been banned in Bangladesh and parts of India and Taslima has many 'fatwas' to her credit. Excellent publicity. She is still fighting to protect her beautiful country and her rights to live in it. By the by, the cover design of the book is misleading with pictures of women on both sides. 


''Let Another Name for Religion be Humanism.''