Kolkata: Taslima Nasrin, the Bangladesh-born author living in exile and now based in Delhi, said the change in regime in West Bengal has rekindled her hopes of returning to Kolkata, from where she was forced out in Nov 2007. She said she has not been allowed to return to the city since then.
An upbeat Taslima said: "I am optimistic that the situation might change now. I have always wanted to return to Kolkata, but it remained a wistful wish, as neither the Left Front govt nor the Trinamool govt gave the nod. Earlier, even a mega serial scripted by me had to be withdrawn following directives from the Trinamool govt."
"If it is possible for me to stay in Kolkata, I will certainly do so. After I was thrown out of Bangladesh in Aug 1994, Kolkata became my home as I could feel the taste of the same Bengali culture for which I came to Kolkata, leaving Europe. I want to visit Kolkata and attend various cultural meets as it is regarded as the cultural capital of India. I want to be at the Kolkata International Book Fair," the author said. She added that she has travelled to various parts of India and recently visited Kerala to participate in cultural events. "I will be deeply grateful to the state govt if I am allowed to visit Kolkata."
"My novels — ‘Lajja' and ‘Shodh' — are now being staged regularly at different places in Delhi and often I am invited to attend such programmes. I would also like to visit Kolkata as many organisers are willing to stage them and had invited me. Hope this new govt will consider my issue."
The author said she was willing to write to the newly elected chief minister Suvendu Adhikari to allow her to return to Kolkata. "For the past two decades, I have cherished the idea of living in Kolkata and am now willing to shift there. If the state govt helps me, I will stay in Kolkata."
BJP MP and state president Samik Bhattacharya had mentioned her issue in Rajya Sabha last year and wanted home ministry to arrange for her stay in Kolkata.
Taslima said many organisation had contacted her for visiting Kolkata, but she was still unsure when she would actually be able to visit the city. In July, she was scheduled to travel to the US for a Bengali conference.
The author on Tuesday posted on social media that Sheikh Hasina, the former Bangladeshi PM now in exile, should be allowed to return to Bangladesh, even though Hasina herself had never wanted the author to return to the country.
She also felt that the ban on Awami League should be withdrawn immediately.