Kolkata: Defying protests by 'religious fanatics' on Wednesday, the publisher of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's autobiography, Dey's Publishing, launched her book in front of a stall at the Kolkata Book Fair. This came as a protest against the guild's decision to cancel the book launch.
The book was launched by author Nabarun Bhattacharya in the presence of Taslima's supporters and human rights activists.
Nabarun Bhattacharya told IBNLive, "I was told by Sudhangshu De, proprietor of Dey's Publishing and publisher of the book, that the Book Sellers and Publishers' Guild denied permission for the launch of the book in the main auditorium. I was told that a large collection of people, against the author and her book, were about to march on the Book Fair. The function was held in a makeshift marquee that was erected by the side of the auditorium and the book was released."
'Nirbashan' (meaning exile) is the seventh volume of Taslima's autobiography.
Earlier on Wednesday, Taslima Nasreen's book launch at the Kolkata Book Fair had been cancelled with sources saying that the step was taken following objections from some religious extremists groups.
The sources said that officials told them that a group of religious fanatics had gone to the Lalbazar police headquarters with a memorandum and were subsequently planning to stage a demonstration at the book launch venue.
However, the Book Fair organisers claimed that the hall where the book was supposed to be launched could not be made ready as Kolkata Literature Festival was going on.
Taslima Nasreen tweeted saying that all political parties were afraid of religious fanatics.
"Kolkata Book Fair committee cancelled my book release program today at Kolkata Book Fair. Why? Some religious fanatics don't want it to happen," she tweeted.
"Kolkata, a city of progressive! A book release even w/o my presence not possible!All political parties,all orgs afraid of fanatics!But how long," she tweeted next.
This has come days after protests against Salman Rushdie at the Jaipur Literature Festival. During the Jaipur Literature Festival religious groups had protested against Rushdie and forced the organisers to cancel his video address. The religious groups claimed that Rushdie's book 'The Satanic Verses' hurt the Muslims.
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