"Lajja" was over hyped..bad. Review on Lajja - Taslima Nasreen

Penned by Taslima Nasrin against the backdrop of Babri Masjid demolition, she portrayed a Hindu family being persecuted by Muslims. O yes, a book which led to the author’s exile from Bangladesh and a fatwa in her name, was the most controversial book in 1993. Originally Lojja(Shame) in Bengali was translated in English by Tutul Gupta.

Nasrin has very boldly named the politicians responsible for the  mosque demolition and the resultant clashes of the two communities(Hindus and Muslims) accompanied with bloodshed and scarred humanity.

The entire novel looks like a collection of news reports which gives details of deaths, loss of property and number of girls raped. In the light of the recent brutal gang rape in Delhi followed by more non stop rape cases, one might very well relate to Lajja. The rape cases currently are more or less like Lajja minus the communal riots.

Lajja has nothing much to offer to the readers apart from the facts. It contributes nothing in terms of literary substance or gravity. While turning the pages, one is ought to feel depressed but may not be sensitized with the events in the book.

Why should anybody shell out so much from their pockets to read a desolate and depressed collection of facts with every potential to turn you off midway through the book? Want to read? Might as well wanna borrow it from me!