Secularism In The Novel Lajja

Taslima Nasrin’s ‘Lajja’ is a response to the anti-Hindu riots that broke out in Bangladesh after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India. Its intent is to warn the people of Bangladesh that communalism is on the rise, that the Hindu minority is badly mistreated and that the secularism they once fought for is in grave danger. Nasrin utilizes fiction's mass emotional appeal, rather than its potential for distinction and universality. Lajja is a poignant and unrelenting account of the suffering of minorities. Millions of people the world over wonder whether they should stay or leave an oppressive homeland. These minorities are socially and mentally imprisoned because of racism existing in the society, culture: religious fundamentals, Hindus …show more content…
Thus, here it is discussed, that in the novel, Lajja, the people are socially and mentally trapped.
Human beings are trapped socially in the novel “Lajja”, because of the religion. The Hindus were labelled as ‘others’ in that society. Though they too are natives of that country they are not treated as such. Only the Muslims are considered as human beings in the country. It was not necessary any more to look for alleys in which to rape Hindus, they could now rape women openly just as they could loot and burn openly. They were discriminated so severely and they could not do what they want. They were not given the freedom to behave, how they want in the society because of the religion. The minority, the Hindus, had to give up most of their customs and change their attire to safeguard themselves. “but he was so afraid of Muslims that Sudhamoy asked his wife not to use sindur, loha and sankha on her wrist and …show more content…
The shame lies not in raping women only, but taking women as the easiest target for crude physical satiation in the name of religion and ideologies. Helpless with rage, Suranjan retaliates by violently raping a Muslim prostitute. So many girls have been raped. Thus, violence breeds violence, the weak turn against the weaker, and in a patriarchal system women are easy victims of men's impotent fury. So we see that even among minorities and majorities, women suffer a lot as being the fairer sex. “Nasreen concludes that a man establishes his unfathomable might by practising such sadism on other weaker human beings. This sadism does not merely involve physical abuse but also comes in the form of psychological suppression, social exclusion and so on”(Chandini, Meenakshi). The main character, Sudhamoy as well as Suranjan, are unable to do anything. They are restricted in all sides because of the received education that you should not leave your motherland. “After the partition, when most Hindus left for India, Sudhamoy's father refused to leave. Why should I leave my homeland and go somewhere else? he argued, If I live it will be on this soil, and if I die it will be in this very same place.” (p.)If they leave, people might say that they are cowards. If they do not leave, their family has to face many problems and they are guilty on both sides. They could not save Maya, his daughter/ sister, because of this mentality.