This quote powerfully critiques the inaction of the majority when minorities face injustice, equating their silence with an endorsement of the cruelty. It emphasizes the moral imperative to speak out against oppression and stand up for vulnerable groups.
Quote by Taslima Nasrin: “Minorities suffer because the majority is silent. Silence is consent to cruelty.”
Minorities suffer because the majority is silent. Silence is consent to cruelty.
Insight
Historical Context
The publication of 'Lajja' in Bangladesh, which depicted the plight of a Hindu family facing religious persecution, brought this issue to the forefront. Nasrin argued that the silence of the majority enabled such atrocities, creating a culture of complicity.
About the Author
Bangladeshi author and secularist activist, born in Mymensingh in 1962, known for her unflinching criticism of religious fundamentalism and her advocacy for women's rights. Her novel Lajja led to death threats and eventually forced exile, and she remains one of the most controversial literary figures in South Asian history.
View all quotes by Taslima Nasrin