The idea of comparing the two iconoclasts came to my mind after reading some excerpts from Humayun Azad's book 'Pak Sar Sad Bad' from www.sonarbangladesh.com. It was my misfortune that I had not yet read this masterpiece.

Both Taslima Nasrin and Humayun Azad took sex and religion to establish themselves. While Taslima Nasrin was very successful in making good fortune using this tactic, Humayun Azad, in spite of his high educational degree, did not do very well. He has been so neglected in the society that he was frequently found making controversial and somewhat foolish remarks to draw media and public attention. Few months ago, he made a comment that the Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology should be made principal of Alia Madarasa (because he has beard). Rabindranath is very lucky. If he were alive now, Dr. Azad would suggest that he be made the chief of Jamate Islami. Taslima seemed to be more mature in this regard. Moreover, she received so much media attention and favour that she did not require making any such comments.

On the other hand, Taslima Nasrin made a very big fortune using the same methodology. No one will call her books a literacy. The columns she used to write in some weeklies would not be published if she did not do what she written in her book 'Kaw'. She simply used her body to make a position in the literary circle. The whole Bangladesh media was with her when she wrote semi-pornographic books, because she did not hesitate to provide sex to our literary legends. As her books humiliated Bangladesh and one of its religions, the neighbouring country put her in the limelight and paved the way for her international recognition.

Probably this is where the difference between Taslima Nasrin and Humayun Azad lies. Almost all of our intellectuals are male and thus Humayun Azad had nothing for them. So, he was not able to get the media attention despite his cultivation of sex and religion. He got what he had long been waiting for only after a deadly experience of assassination attempt.

Both of them received the highest magnitude of media attention and favour of their lives by the grace of mullahs. They made them famous (although they were trying to make them infamous) by taking the issue to parliament, making huge public meetings and rallies and issuing press releases.

Humayun Azad seems to be enjoying his newly achieved fame and is known to be planning for utilising the tactic for future gain. In an interview with Channel I, he said that he would start writing directly. Probably he is planning to write something like 'Lady Chaterjee's Lover' in near future.

The strength of the real seculars is weaken by this type of people who try to sell sex and anti-Islamic sentiment is such ways. Nothing great can be achieved by spreading hatred. The reluctance to accept region-based politics was reduced after people read his book. I do not know how much damage it is doing to the fundamentalists, but I am sure that many Muslims will not like saying bad things about their prophet and his companions.

Samar Kumar Ghosh
April 10, 2004