Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin supports Uniform Civil Code in India
Kolkata, Aug 2
Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin on Sunday said that implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in India is essential to eliminate discrimination, particularly against women. The writer also stressed the need for such a law in neighbouring Bangladesh and Pakistan.
"All advanced countries have UCC-like laws. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India need a Uniform Civil Code. There should be equal laws for everyone. Women face a great deal of discrimination, and much of it can be removed through a UCC. It is essential," Nasrin told media persons at a press conference in Kolkata.
Her remarks come days after the West Bengal government constituted a high-level committee to examine a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state.
A government notification said the panel was formed in view of the "wide ramifications and voluminous nature" of the proposed legislation.
The committee will undertake a comprehensive examination of the draft Bill before any further steps are taken, it said.
Nasrin said equality was the cornerstone of civilisation, but many women continued to face discrimination. "In Bangladesh, Hindu women do not have equal rights. They cannot inherit their father's property. If Hindu women are to enjoy freedom and equal rights, a Uniform Civil Code is necessary."
Nasrin, who returned to Kolkata after nearly 19 years, was felicitated at a state government programme at Rabindra Sadan on Saturday.
She had left Kolkata in 2007 after protests over the publication of her book Dwikhandito (Split: A Life) forced the then Left Front government to move her out of the city.
Meanwhile, she also criticised the role of madrasas and expressed concern over the growing religious fundamentalism in the country. "The madrasas in Bangladesh should not exist. In many cases, madrasas have been found to be producing jihadists. Imams and madrasa teachers have been arrested and sent to jail. I do not believe there is any need for madrasas. Many graduates do not go on to do productive work; they survive on donations," she said.
By saying this, Taslima Nasrin practically supported the comment of former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who had said that "Militants are created in madrasas."
In 2002, the then Chief Minister of the state, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, while speaking about some unauthorised madrasas in the border area of the state, had said that madrasas have become hotbeds of militant activities.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I agree with the need for UCC, but I think we need to be careful about how we go about it. India is a diverse country with many traditions. Maybe we should focus on making the personal laws more equitable first, rather than abruptly replacing everything. Also, comparing madrasas to militant factories is too simplistic and hurts the feelings of millions of peaceful Muslims. Let's have a nuanced discussion.
Great to see Taslima Nasrin supporting UCC! As a woman, I feel the pain of discrimination in our personal laws. My Muslim friend cannot get her father's property equally, and my Hindu friend has to struggle for her share. But I also think we should not demonize all madrasas. There are good ones that teach free education. It's the unauthorised ones that need scrutiny. Let's separate the wheat from the chaff. 🙏
I think it's ironic that a Bangladesh-born writer is lecturing India about this. Why don't they first implement UCC in Bangladesh and Pakistan, which are supposedly "Muslim" states? India is a large and complex country. We should be careful about rushing into a UCC when there's so much religious sensitivity. We need to ensure that minority communities are not feeling alienated. Let's work on other equality measures first.
UCC is the need of the hour! How long will we keep our society divided on religious lines? The sooner we have a common code, the better for national integration. And about madrasas - I think it's time for serious reform. We cannot allow religious schools to operate without any standardised curriculum. that's how radicals are produced. The government needs to regulate all educational institutions, including madrasas. 💯
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.