'Hindu-Muslim wedding should be encouraged'

Bhopal, Apr 15: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin has expressed regret over the hue and cry regarding the marriage between a Hindu woman and a Muslim youth here and said that the alliance should receive encouragement instead of being abhorred.

Nasrin, here to take part in last evening's programme on her writing and personality at the multi-art centre Bharat Bhavan, told reporters that an individual enjoyed complete freedom in the world's largest democracy.

''Every person has the right to choose his or her life partner and raising hue and cry over it is not proper,'' she felt.

On whether such weddings were solemnised in Bangladesh and whether extreme reactions emerged, Nasrin replied in the negative while mentioning that her brother married a Hindu.

Responding to another question, she said that though she was still a Bangladeshi citizen the doors had been closed for her return. ''I lived in Europe for 12 years but was tired of staying in a rather different culture,'' the author explained. That led her to requesting the Government of India to provide a visa. Nasrin is residing in Kolkata.

On whether she felt the need to compromise after fundamentalists issued a fatwa against her, Nasrin claimed that the thought never crossed her mind.

She is scheduled to lecture, on her literary journey, at the Bharat Bhavan this afternoon besides interacting with literature buffs.

UNI