Lajja

Taslima Nasrin’s novel Lajja (Shame) condemns both religious fundamentalism and the inhuman treatment that human beings inflict upon one another.

The Dutta family—Sudhamoy Babu, Kironmoyee, and their two children, Suranjan and Maya—are residents of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, Hindus, a religious minority, are subjected to relentless persecution by the majority community. Yet this Hindu family chooses to remain in their homeland despite the persecution. Unlike many of their relatives, they are unwilling to leave their country.

Sudhamoy Babu is an atheist—a personality filled with patriotism, optimism, and idealism. He continues to cling to the naïve hope that his motherland will never turn its back on him or betray his trust.

And then...

On 6 December 1992, religious fundamentalists in India demolished the Babri Masjid. The entire world condemned this incident. However, its repercussions were felt with great intensity in neighbouring Bangladesh, where it provided yet another pretext for the persecution of Hindus.

The Dutta family, too, is struck by this devastating crisis. They become victims of its consequences. Their lives and their small, intimate world are shattered.

Based on stark realism, this novel offers a powerful portrayal of the bloodthirsty mindset of religious fundamentalists and the violence that persists in the modern world. It compels readers to reflect deeply on the consequences of religious hatred and intolerance.