Loss of Faith in Nationalism in Taslima Nasrin's Lajja

Abstract

In the novel,Lajja,by Taslima Nasrin, Sudhamoy, the main character, has deep faith in nationalism. He loves his country so much that he never thinks of leaving his country (Bangladesh) despite very adverse environment in contrast to other Hindu neighbors. But the existing religious fundamentalism reaches such an extreme that his faith is dismantled. So, at last, he decides to leave his country with ineffable pain in hisheart. But he himself is also accountable in making his belief a terrible failure. He should not have been too nationalistic as it was quite contrary to the undefeatable reality outside but he had a way to save his faith. It is by shifting to India as hisfriends suggest. But, he does not do so till his daughter becomes a victim of Muslim fundamentalism. This shatters his belief. He should have thought that he could save his love and faith in nationalism even by living out of the geographical boundary of his country. So, his own sense of nationalism has to be blamed as it is extreme, idealistic and absurd as well. Thus, the existing communalism collides with his nationalism and this incompatibility results in complete loss in faith. This loss in faith becomes intolerably painful to him. The ideal he professes is so high that the ultimate erosion in that belief is absolutely devastating--a fall that mentally shatters him to pieces!