Taslima Nasreen, whose 1993 book Lajja provoked death threats and led to her exile to Europe, is at the centre of a storm yet again. This time in West Bengal, where the authorities today seized copies of her latest novel Dwikhandita on the grounds that it could trigger communal violence. The publishers have also been restrained from bringing out further copies. The book, the third in Nasreen’s autobiographical series, is replete with details of her sexual relationships with leading Bangladeshi literary figures, including Samsur Rahman and Samsul Haque. Published as Ka in Bangladesh, it was banned by a Dhaka court yesterday. In Kolkata, the book hit the stands on November 4, and has reportedly sold 2,000 copies so far. It was following a trajectory similar to her earlier works Lajja, Amar Meyebela (My Girlhood) and Utal Hawa (Turbulent Times), all of which were published to violent reactions —eventually tapering off into outrage or acclaim — and notched up good sales. With Dwikhandita (Split into Two), however, the police said they would recommend censoring of certain portions as it ‘‘may trigger communal remarks since it contains derogatory remarks about Islam’’. Police Commissioner Sujoy Chakravarthy, however, said he knew nothing of the issue. ‘‘I have no idea what has happened. Please check with the DCP of the Special Branch who should know. I myself will check this thing,’’ he told The Indian Express. Some quarters, though, say the communal angle is not the issue at all. According to Shivani Mukherjee of People’s Book House, which earlier published Amar Meyebela and Utal Hawa — the first two parts of Nasreen’s autobiography — the next instalment is to deal with her relationship with Kolkata writers. Nasreen’s bonding with city-based authors has been especially close since her exile from Bangladesh. ‘‘I am not afraid because I never had any sexual relationship with her,’’ was litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay’s immediate reaction when approached on the subject. But he sided with the authorities’ steps. ‘‘The portions censured in Bangladesh are present in the book published here. It has insulted Islam and the Prophet and it may create communal tension,’’ he said. Other writers disagree. ‘‘It’s too absurd to be believed. How can the police do this in this state?’’ said noted poet and novelist Nabaneeta Dev Sen. Mukherjee of People’s Book House, meanwhile, is unabashedly worried. ‘‘The book was doing good business, but because of the police order, we are turning away all customers,’’ she said. ‘‘They told us not to print the book and took away the copies we had.’’ Other publishers are disappointed too. ‘‘There was a great demand for the book but as the police are not allowing printing, we cannot do anything,’’ said Subhash Dey, co-owner of Dey’s Publishing who lost two copies in the raid.
