Kolkata: Exiled Bangladeshi author and activist Taslima Nasrin is set to return to Kolkata after a long hiatus of nearly two decades. The celebrated writer, known for her strong stance against religious fundamentalism, will attend a literary event at the iconic Rabindra Sadan on August 1. Nasrin recently took to social media to announce her much anticipated visit, marking a highly symbolic moment in her turbulent association with the city.
The acclaimed author was forced to leave Kolkata in November 2007 following massive and violent protests orchestrated by fundamentalist groups over her autobiographical work. The unrest severely affected the local law and order situation, prompting the state government at the time to advise her to leave West Bengal. Since then, multiple attempts by Nasrin to visit the city were consistently thwarted due to prevailing security concerns and political pressures.
This time, Nasrin has been formally invited by organizations such as the Secular Mission and the Human Rights and Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Foundation. Organizers stated that the invitation was extended to honor her unwavering advocacy for freedom of expression and her lifelong fight against extremism. A spokesperson for the organizing committee noted that she is a symbol of resistance against religious fundamentalism and is incredibly happy to finally come back to her beloved city.
Nasrin originally fled Bangladesh in 1994 after receiving death threats from radical Islamists over her controversial novel Lajja. Despite spending several years in Europe and the United States, she eventually moved to India in 2004 and made Kolkata her home, often describing the Bengali speaking city as her closest cultural refuge. Currently residing in New Delhi on an extended residence permit, her upcoming visit has sparked massive enthusiasm among intellectuals, writers, and civil society members across West Bengal.