Neo-Orientalism and the Representation of Muslim identity and Islam in Taslima Nasrin’s Lajja

Abstract

Islam and Muslims are not only maligned by the western experts on Islam, but also by indigenous native informers who claim to provide authentic representation of the Muslim majority countries. This kind of stereotypical and essentialist depiction of Islam and Muslims has been termed as neo-Orientalism by William and Behdad, they argue that neo-Orientalists disseminate Islamophobia by depicting Islam as an extremist religion. Islam is one of the dominant religions in the South Asian region which also includes Bangladesh; it is the dominant religion in Pakistan and Bangladesh and second largest religion in India. Keeping in view this issue, this study conducts the textual analysis of Lajja by Taslima Nasrin by following theoretical framework of Behdad and William’s neo-Orientalism. The study examines how Nasrin in her novel Lajja employs neo-Orientalist discourse in order to construct monolithic and essentialist identities of not only Muslisms, but also Muslims majority government.

Key Words: Neo-Orientalism, Islam, Neo-Orientalism Lajja, Taslima Nasrin