From: iview-AT-technologist.com
Date: Sat, 03 Oct 1998 08:49:59 -0700
Subject: To Enrica...Re: Taslima Nasreen and her head


Symbolism is a patriarchal conceptualization of an exaggerated and
self-delusional image of itself.  I think that Ms. Nasreen has
out-patriarched the patriarchy.  

However, if indeed women, in our struggles, require a symbol of a woman
fighting for the rights of all women, we already have Behula...to whom
Dr. Rinita Mazumdar's poem has done elegant justice.

-Manjusree


Enrica Garzilli wrote:
> 
> iview-AT-technologist.com wrote:
> >
> > Partha,
> >
> > I oppose Ms. Nasreen's tactics...anyone who leaves out her sisters is
> > suspect in my eyes.  Secondly, she has my support if in fact she speaks
> > also for her sisters who have equally opposed fundamentalists.  I didn't
> > find that evident in her letter to the world's myriad and complex
> > Governments to save her.  I pray they can.  She seems mightily
> > self-righteous about visiting her ailing mother in Bangladesh.  Such
> > dramatics don't impress me.
> >
> > I really don't see your point about international support for her and
> > her being exempt...I never suggested she is exexmpt from receiving world
> > support to save her.  I simply don't support her sensationalist tactics
> > that seem to catapult her to center stage.  Of course I oppose
> > fundamentalists, fanatics, fascists yadda, yadda, yadda...and if as you
> > say we don't get "befooled...by...bigots," that's news to me!
> >
> > -Manjusree
> >
> > Partha Banerjee wrote:
> > >
> > > I have my own reservations about Taslima, her sensationalism (and bad
> > > writing), and all. However, that does not exempt her from getting our
> > > support from an international arena. This is all we can do to support her
> > > voice of dissent and oppose barbarism practised by fundamentalists and
> > > fanatics and fascists. We do it in Bangladesh, we do it in India, we do it
> > > in USA. And we don't get befooled by double standards and
> > > confusion-creating tactics of the bigots.
> > > __________
> > >
> > > >Partha,
> > > ...
> > > >I feel that Taslima Nasreen should not have left her bangladeshi
> > > >sister writers in the dust in her own climb towards international fame
> > > >and acclaim...she seems to have a tendency to turn to those who support
> > > >sensationalism vs those who support universal human rights.
> > > >
> > > >Lest anyone misundertand me and think me cold-blooded and heartless, I'm
> > > >actually moved by Ms. Nasreen's plea to other Governments, and I hope
> > > >the outrageous death threat against her cannot be carried out.  The
> > > >thought occurs to me, nevertheless, that perhaps she might also turn to
> > > >her sister writers who have not only made greater contributions to
> > > >bangla literature, but have struggled even harder in protesting
> > > >oppression and abuse of Islamic women without leaving Bangladesh.  I
> > > >don't presume to know statistics but base my comments on recollections
> > > >of my readings by literary analysts and exchanges with other writers.  I
> > > >pray for her life and her mother's good health.
> > > >
> > > >Best regards,
> > > >
> > > >-Manjusree
> 
> I have interviewd her and had the opportunity to talk to her for quite
> some time informally.
> I asked her about her relationship with feminist groups in Bangladesh
> and India. She told me that many of them wanted to use her name to have
> publicity, to become famous. That's very possible.
> However, I also had the impression of a certain ambiguity from her and a
> certain will to be "the first", to be the heroine of the situation (I
> have written all that in the report of the JSAWS, and her lecture, and
> reported the recorded  reaction of people present.)
> Like a hero, she wants to be isolated and alone. She wants to fight by
> herself. For sure she is very childish... (besides the opportunity to be
> alone in terms of results)
> However, she is a symbol. That is important, not HER private figure and
> personality. Sho cares of her in person?
> The importance is in people who fights not in her name but taking her
> name as a symbol of funfamentalists' oppression and prevarication.
> WHat do you think about it?
> 
> Enrica
> --
> Dr. Enrica Garzilli                 University of Perugia (ITALY)
> Istituto di Linguistica                      Piazza Morlacchi, 11
> 06123 Perugia                  Tel./Fax: +39-75-585 3755 (office)
> Editor-in-Chief,
> Intl. Journ. of Tantric Studies, Journal of S. Asia Women Studies
> htpp://www.asiatica.org/
> *****************************************************************