—Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Did you see the newspaper report a few days ago about a girl being refused admission to the BT College, Habra, despite her topping the admission test, because she did not have a religion? That was me. I had put an X in the space marked “religion” on the form. I have been doing that since my Madhyamik exams, as I don’t believe in god or religion. Although I was born in a Muslim family, I am not a Muslim, and the person I have married, Sukumar Mitra, does not consider himself a Hindu. We are very strict about our secular principles and do not compromise.
We ardently believe that as long as we define ourselves by our religions we will continue to breed communal disharmony. Why can’t I identify myself simply as “Tahmina Khatun, wife of Sukumar Mitra”? That should be enough in a democratic society.
My admission was denied for two reasons, the authorities informed me: (1) I did not have a religion, and (2) I did not carry my husband’s Hindu surname. They showed me to the door for these flaws in my character. When I insisted, they showed me the court. I did go to court, and the judgment was in my favor. But they ignored the judgment just as they had ignored the merit list. I can’t even step into the college compound—the doorman has been instructed to shoo me away. I wonder why this college was named after Gandhiji and not after Nathuram Godse.
I am writing to you because you are a writer. Can’t you do anything at all to help me? —Tahmina