---
title: "Nasrin Returns to Kolkata After 19-Year Exile With State Security Guarantee"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/nasrin-returns-to-kolkata-after-19-year-exile-with-state-security-guarantee-s6z7a
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-02T19:15:24.000Z
modified: 2026-08-02T22:00:34.401Z
language: en-IN
---

# Nasrin Returns to Kolkata After 19-Year Exile With State Security Guarantee

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari officially welcomed exiled author Taslima Nasrin back to Kolkata, ending her nearly two-decade absence. The administration pledged full protection for the writer, citing a commitment to constitutional freedom of speech.

## Key takeaways

- Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata on July 31, 2026, ending a 19-year exile from the city.
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally guaranteed Nasrin's safety, declaring that threats against her are over.
- Nasrin was previously forced out of Kolkata in 2007 following violent protests that required Army intervention.
- The author emphasized that her return is focused on women's liberty and free speech rather than political affiliation.
- High-profile attendees included Tathagata Roy and ministers Swapan Dasgupta and Agnimitra Paul.

## End of a Nineteen-Year Exile

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata on July 31, 2026, marking her first visit to the city in nineteen years. During a ceremony held at Rabindra Sadan on Saturday, August 1, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari formally welcomed the 63-year-old writer, asserting that the period of intimidation against her has concluded. Adhikari presented Nasrin with a portrait of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the composer of Vande Mataram, signaling a shift in the state's stance toward her presence.

## A History of Forced Departures

Nasrin’s history with the city is marked by volatility. After fleeing Bangladesh in 1994 due to her writings, she eventually settled in Kolkata. However, widespread civil unrest triggered by organizations protesting her work forced her departure in November 2007. The resulting violence necessitated the deployment of the Indian Army to restore order. For years, the author criticized both the former Left Front administration and subsequent Trinamool Congress leadership for blocking her return to the state.

## Government Pledges Protection and Free Speech

Chief Minister Adhikari used the occasion to contrast current governance with previous decades. He characterized the modern West Bengal as a region free from ideological barriers where constitutional rights are upheld. Adhikari personally guaranteed the writer's safety, inviting her to visit the state without restriction. Several high-ranking officials attended the event, including state ministers Swapan Dasgupta, Agnimitra Paul, and Kalyan Chakrabarti, alongside veteran BJP leader Tathagata Roy.

## Author Reclaims Her Voice

While expressing gratitude for the security provided by the current government, Nasrin clarified that her return was not a gesture of political allegiance. She noted the tragedy of requiring heavy security to visit a city that shares her native language. "I have not come here for any political party. I came here to express my voice over women’s liberty and freedom of speech," Nasrin told the audience. She described the return as a realization of a long-held dream, acknowledging that while history recorded those who expelled her, it will now record those who facilitated her return.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/nasrin-returns-to-kolkata-after-19-year-exile-with-state-security-guarantee-s6z7a
Reported from: The Hindu — National