Column: In honor of Sushmita Banerjee

As Americans, we are used to hearing all about the First Amendment.

It’s debated, defended and discussed so often by politicians and the media that it’s a constant part of our lives.

We almost take it for granted.

As a journalism major, I viewed freedom of speech as a basic, unassailable right up until recently.

Absorbed in my little B-town bubble, I forget that the First Amendment is a privilege in other parts of the world — a privilege denied to the writers like the recently murdered Sushmita Banerjee.

Banerjee made global news when she was dragged out of her home in Paktika, Afghanistan, last Thursday by members of the Taliban’s Haqqani militant network, according to India Today.

After tying up her husband and family, the two militants shot Banerjee 25 times.
The author’s controversial memoir, “A Kabuliwala’s Bengali Wife,” had denounced the Taliban for exactly such laws and punishments when published in 1998.

“A Kabuliwala’s Bengali Wife,” which was made into a Bollywood movie in 2003, criticized the Taliban government’s harsh rule in Afghanistan.

Banerjee describes the second-class treatment of women, whom Taliban laws forbid from attending school and even going outside unless accompanied by a male relative.

Banerjee also wrote of her struggle against the repressive government — her escape attempts, government interrogation and return to her native India.
  
Murders of outspoken authors like Banerjee are sadly common both in the Taliban’s Afghanistan and other, similar regimes, according to my research.

Since reading about Banerjee’s death, I’ve realized how privileged we are as Americans to be able to write and to read about whatever we should choose, without fear of reprisal.

And by appreciating those privileges — appreciating the First Amendment — we can honor authors like Banerjee, who was brave enough to speak out despite what she knew was inevitable retaliation.
 
— jenfagan@indiana.edu

Follow book columnist Jenna Fagan on Twitter @jenna_faganIDS.