Cultural Identity Debate: Taslima Nasreen Claims Bengali Culture Rooted in Hindu Traditions, Javed Akhtar Advocates for Syncretic Appreciation

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has asserted that Hindu culture forms the foundation of Bengali culture, including that of Bengali Muslims. This statement prompted a response from renowned lyricist-poet Javed Akhtar, who emphasized the importance of also acknowledging the "Ganga Jamni Awadh culture."

The Ganga Jamni Awadh culture, commonly known as Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, represents the syncretic Hindu-Muslim cultural amalgamation that has flourished across northern India.

Nasreen shared her thoughts on Ashtami during the Durga Puja celebrations, the most significant festival celebrated by Bengali Hindus. Accompanying her post with images of a Durga pandal and cultural events, she emphasized that Bengalis of all religions have their national identity rooted in India.

"There is nothing to conceal: Hindu culture is the foundation of Bengali culture. We Bengalis—whatever religion or philosophy we may have embraced over the course of history—belong, in our national identity, to India. The forefathers and foremothers of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and even atheists of India were all, or nearly all, Indian Hindus," Nasreen stated in her online post.

Nasreen, who is often viewed as critical of Islamic traditions, contended that Bengali Muslims' culture is not derived from Arabia but is deeply embedded in Hindu traditions.

"Even if a Bengali is Muslim, his culture is not the culture of Arabia. His culture is Bengali culture, and that culture is rooted in Hindu tradition. The beating of drums, the music, the dance-these are the primal expressions of Bengali culture. This is what it means to be Bengali. To deny it is to deny oneself," the author elaborated.

In response, Javed Akhtar, a celebrated writer and poet, acknowledged Nasreen's perspective while emphasizing the need to appreciate the sophisticated blend of Hindu and Muslim cultures.

"We the people of traditional Awadh have great respect for Bengali culture, language and literature. But if someone is unable to appreciate and respect the great Ganga Jamni Awadh culture and its refinement, its sophistication, then it's completely his lose. This culture has nothing to do with Arab," he remarked.

The esteemed lyricist further noted, "Parsian and Central Asian cultures and languages have seeped in our culture and language like western culture but on our terms and conditions. BTW many Bangali surnames are in Persian."