Taslima Nasrin returns to Kolkata after 19 years, forced out in 2007 riots
Synopsis
Taslima Nasrin set foot in Kolkata on 31 July for the first time in nearly 19 years — ending an exile that outlasted two state governments and multiple political calculations. With CM Suvendu Adhikari reportedly attending her cultural event at Rabindra Sadan, her return is as much a political statement as a personal homecoming.
Key Takeaways
Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata on 31 July , nearly 19 years after being forced to leave in 2007 .
Her departure was triggered by communal violence over her memoir Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated) , which the Left Front government banned in West Bengal.
The Army was deployed in Kolkata in 2007 as tensions escalated in minority-dominated areas.
The informal ban on her return reportedly persisted through the early years of Mamata Banerjee's TMC government ( 2011–2016 ), with no initiative taken for her return over 15 years of TMC rule.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is reportedly likely to attend her cultural programme at Rabindra Sadan on Saturday.
West Bengal police have assured watertight security for Nasrin during her stay.
Bangladeshi author and poet Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata on Friday, 31 July, nearly 19 years after she was compelled to leave the city following communal violence in 2007 — unrest triggered by her memoir Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated). Nasrin landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 12:50 pm, receiving a welcome marked by the sound of conch shells.
"I feel so good to come here again," said a visibly overwhelmed Nasrin upon arrival.
The Return and What Awaits
On Saturday, Nasrin is scheduled to address a cultural programme at Rabindra Sadan in central Kolkata, organised by a coalition of cultural groups including Secular Mission. State Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is also reportedly likely to attend the event, according to sources. Given that security remains a concern, the West Bengal police administration has assured watertight arrangements for her throughout her stay.
What Happened in 2007
In 2007, during the tenure of then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and his Left Front government, parts of Kolkata erupted into violence following the publication of Nasrin's memoir Dwikhandito. Tensions flared in minority-dominated pockets of the city, growing severe enough that the administration was forced to deploy the Army. The Left Front government subsequently banned the circulation of the book in West Bengal and asked Nasrin to leave the state.
The episode drew sharp national criticism from literary and secular circles, who questioned why a Communist-led government — one that had long positioned itself as a defender of secularism — had yielded to pressure from fundamentalist groups and effectively expelled a celebrated writer.
An Unwritten Ban That Outlasted Governments
Notably, the informal ban on Nasrin's return did not end with the Left Front's fall from power. During the initial years of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government — from 2011 to 2016 — the unwritten prohibition reportedly remained in place. Over the full 15 years of the TMC regime, from 2011 to 2026, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not take any initiative to facilitate Nasrin's return to Kolkata, according to reports. The return on Friday thus marks the end of a political silence that spanned two successive state governments and multiple ideological shifts.
Who Taslima Nasrin Is
Nasrin is a renowned Bangladeshi author, poet, and secular activist whose writings on religion, women's rights, and identity have drawn both international acclaim and sustained controversy. She has lived in exile for decades, facing death threats and legal action in Bangladesh as well. Her return to Kolkata — a city she had long called a second home — carries symbolic weight for free-speech advocates and the Bengali literary community alike.
What Comes Next
With the state government now providing security and a sitting Chief Minister reportedly set to share a stage with her, Nasrin's visit signals a political recalibration in West Bengal. Whether this translates into a longer or more permanent presence in the city remains to be seen.
Point of View
One avowedly secular and one populist, kept her out for nearly two decades without a formal order, relying instead on the convenient ambiguity of an 'unwritten ban.' That the return happens under a BJP chief minister, reportedly sharing a stage with Nasrin, is a pointed political signal aimed squarely at the TMC's minority-appeasement record. The risk is that her visit becomes a partisan prop rather than a genuine restoration of a writer's right to her city. Whether the state's security apparatus holds and whether this visit opens the door to a sustained presence will be the real test of intent.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Taslima Nasrin forced to leave Kolkata in 2007?
Nasrin was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007 after communal violence erupted in minority-dominated areas of the city over the publication of her memoir Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated). The Left Front government under Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya banned the book's circulation in West Bengal and asked her to leave the state, deploying the Army to contain the unrest.
Where is Taslima Nasrin appearing during her Kolkata visit?
Nasrin is scheduled to address a cultural programme at Rabindra Sadan in central Kolkata on Saturday, 1 August, organised by a coalition of cultural groups including Secular Mission. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is reportedly likely to attend the event.
Did the Trinamool Congress government allow Taslima Nasrin to return?
No. According to reports, the informal ban on Nasrin's return persisted through the early years of the TMC government from 2011 to 2016, and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not take any initiative to facilitate her return over the full 15 years of TMC rule from 2011 to 2026.
What security arrangements have been made for Taslima Nasrin in Kolkata?
The West Bengal police administration has assured watertight security for Nasrin throughout her stay in the state, given that her safety and security remain a concern given the circumstances of her original departure.
Who is Taslima Nasrin?
Taslima Nasrin is a renowned Bangladeshi author, poet, and secular activist known for her writings on religion, women's rights, and identity. She has lived in exile for decades after facing death threats and legal action in Bangladesh, and considers Kolkata a second home.
