Author Taslima Nasrin to return to Kolkata after nearly 19 years exile for literary event

Bangladesh-born author Taslima Nasrin is set to return to Kolkata on August 1, nearly 19 years after she was forced to leave the city following violent protests in 2007. The writer, who has spent years in exile due to threats linked to her writings on religious extremism and women's rights, will attend a literary event at Rabindra Sadan, a venue she considers deeply significant.

Nasrin has often described Kolkata as her second home and has repeatedly expressed her wish to return. Her upcoming visit is being seen as both a personal milestone and a symbolic moment for freedom of expression and literary dialogue.

The event has been organised by groups advocating secularism and free speech, with organisers saying the invitation recognises her long-standing stand against fundamentalism.

Her return comes after years of living outside West Bengal following security concerns that led to her departure in 2007. Many observers believe the visit reflects changing political and cultural circumstances in the state while reopening conversations around free expression, tolerance, and the role of writers in public discourse.