Taslima Nasrin’s Big Verdict on Bengal Under the New Government

Taslima Nasrin has welcomed the change in government in West Bengal, thanking Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the new state administration for enabling her return to Kolkata after nearly two decades and arranging security for her.

The Bangladesh-born writer, who was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007 following protests over her writings, returned to the city in July this year and is currently visiting Kolkata for the second time since the change in government. Speaking about the new administration, Nasrin said it had taken a step that the previous governments had not taken.

“The new government has at least opened the door that the previous two governments had kept closed,” Nasrin said in an interview with Ei Samay. She also expressed gratitude to the government and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for making arrangements for her security.

Nasrin pointed out that she is not an Indian citizen but said she was touched by the government’s decision to recognise the security and freedom-of-expression rights of a persecuted writer. She, however, said her expectations from the government go beyond her own case.

“I expect this government to protect the rights of not just me, but all writers, artists, women, minorities and people with different opinions,” she said.

Her comments came after Adhikari publicly welcomed her back to Bengal during a programme at Rabindra Sadan in August. The Chief Minister had assured her that she could visit the state whenever she wished and that the government would take responsibility for her security. He also described Bengal as a place where freedom of speech, constitutional rights and fundamental rights were protected under the new government.

Nasrin’s return has consequently acquired a significance beyond her personal homecoming. She had lived in Kolkata for several years and regarded the city as her second home before leaving in 2007 amid protests and security concerns.

During her August visit, however, Nasrin also struck a more nuanced note. While thanking the government for facilitating her return, she said it remained painful that a writer had to enter a city where she speaks the language under police protection. She also stressed the importance of separating religion from the state, law, politics and education, arguing that governments should protect believers and non-believers equally.

Nasrin returned to Kolkata again on October 7 and said she was enjoying the city. She expressed her desire to remain in Kolkata during Durga Puja from next year and praised the city’s celebrations, comparing the festival atmosphere to a grand art exhibition.

Her latest visit has also seen her speak strongly about religious extremism in Bangladesh. She has urged the Bangladeshi government to take action against fundamentalist groups and expressed concern over the rise of extremist forces in the country.

For West Bengal, Nasrin’s return and her comments on the new administration have become a significant cultural and political talking point. While her appreciation of the government’s decision to facilitate her return is clear, her remarks also place a broader expectation on the administration — that the protection of freedom of expression and individual rights should extend beyond her own case.