Taslima advocates free speech, says self-evaluation is antidote to superstition
Times of India | 2 August 2026
Kolkata: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, who returned to Kolkata after 19 years on Friday, said criticism of Islam or speaking the truth about Islam was not an attack on Muslims. It was necessary to bring about reforms, evolution and freedom of Muslim community, she said during an event at Rabindra Sadan by ‘Secular Mission, Human Rights Beyond Frontiers Foundation and Paschimbanger Jonyo’. CM Suvendu Adhikari was also present.
“Nasrin is free to visit the city whenever she chooses to and as many times as she likes,” Adhikari said. The new govt has ensured freedom of speech, restored constitutional and fundamental rights, allowing everyone free access to the city and state, he added. Nasrin attended the event and read several of her poems.
“No religion — Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism or Buddhism — was above criticism,” said the 63-year-old author who was exiled from Bangladesh in 1994. “These societies have got rid of superstitions and fundamentalism through self-evaluation. But Islamic inquisition continues in Muslim countries. This is done to silence criticism. Those who dare to speak against this are either killed, sent to jail or exiled. Even the Leftists and the so-called progressives are guilty of supporting this. I am asked why I don’t speak against the flaws of Hinduism, Christianity or Buddhism. What was my fault? Did I kill anyone? Did I burn houses? I studied medicine, wrote some simple things about man-women relationships and equal rights.”
Earlier, the CM welcomed Nasrin “as the administrative head to a Bengal free of chains and bondage”. “Every pillar of Constitution is secure here. Everyone has the opportunity to visit this Bengal. Everyone has freedom of speech. And today, the highly beloved and respected writer, Taslima Nasrin, who set foot on Bengal’s soil on Friday, is attending an event today. This proves that under the new govt, Bengal’s democracy, Constitution, freedom of speech, and fundamental rights are secure. All those things (restrictions) are now a thing of the past,” he added. “As the CM and minister of information and cultural affairs, I welcomed her with a picture of Rishi Bankim Chandra to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, saying, ‘You are welcome to West Bengal,” the CM said. Adhikari urged Nasrin to air her views freely “You are a writer, everyone reads your work, and you have a vast number of admirers. Please speak freely, and you have certainly witnessed through your own experience the systemic changes that have taken place in Bengal. Not just once, but whenever you wish, you can come again and again. Responsibility of providing you security in a safe Bengal lies with the CM and police minister, Suvendu Adhikari.”
Nasrin said Aug is the month of her birth and exile, and from today it’s the month of her return. “My relationship with Bengal is a long one. Long before I came here, I would read authors from Bengal, listen to music and plays on radio. From 1980, I started coming to Kolkata and in 1990s my book was launched here. In 2007, I was forced to leave Kolkata. But what was my fault? I did not kill anyone. Those who want to control people in name of Islam are enemies of Muslims. A nation has no religion; a nation means equal opportunity for all.” She added: “This is not just a personal joy but a victory for free speech against prohibition, free thinking and love. They have taken away my home but not the desire to return to my home. Today is a day of opening doors for me. Just as history remembers who closed doors, it also remembers who opened them. You have brought me closer to my home. I can say that home is not on the map, it is there in people’s love,” Taslima added.
Thanking the govt for providing security, she said security for a writer meant his/her freedom of speech and expression. “I have not come back for speech for a political party. I am here to speak for women’s freedom. I was forced to leave Bangladesh, but I found a home here,” she said. “I am grateful to the honourable CM for taking responsibility of my security. But gratitude is not a contract of loyalty. I have not mortgaged my independent thought in exchange for gratitude,” she added.
Finance minister Swapan Dasgupta said: “The way she was driven out of Kolkata should never happen again. Won’t say I agree with everything she writes but there is no need to agree on everything.” Minister Agnimitra Paul recited a poem written by her in honour of Nasrin, who later greeted the audience.