Taslima Nasreen returns to Kolkata on Oct 7, asks readers to question and disagree
The exiled author, returning less than two months after her first visit in 19 years, plans poetry recitals, literary discussions, and time with old friends
Kolkata, Oct 2 (PTI) Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen plans to share her poetry with literature enthusiasts, whom she wants not only to listen but also to question and disagree with her when she returns to Kolkata on October 7, less than two months after her first visit in 19 years.
She also wants to attend the grand Mahalaya programme at Eden Gardens that the West Bengal government would host on October 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are on the guest list for the programme.
If time permits, Nasreen hopes to travel to Kolaghat to savour hilsa and visit either polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's birthplace, Birsingha in Paschim Medinipore or renowned Bengali Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's home in Howrah district.
A day after arriving in Kolkata, Nasreen is set to recite her poetry at Mahajati Sadan and address a literary event in Salt Lake a couple of days later.
"Bring your questions, your thoughts, and your disagreements. A writer needs readers who think independently and are willing to question her too," she told PTI in an exclusive interview from New Delhi on Friday.
"Keep reading, keep questioning, and stand up for the freedom to express an opinion, even an unpopular one. I look forward to being among you, sharing my work, and hearing your voices," she said, referring to readers and admirers in Kolkata.
A physician by training, the acclaimed writer said she was "very happy" to be returning to the city, which she described as a place of literature, readers, and friends that provide a sense of belonging.
Nasreen said her Kolkata visit in July, after almost 19 years, had been "overwhelming", as the author recalled the affection she received as well as the painful realisation of the years she had lost. "Being able to return again so soon gives me hope that Kolkata can become a regular part of my life again," she said.
The 'Dwikhondito' writer said she was looking forward to meeting readers and sharing her poetry with them during the visit.
"Writing is a solitary activity. You rarely know exactly where your words will travel or whose life they will touch. Meeting readers makes that connection visible, and that is precious to me," she said.
A day after arriving in Kolkata on October 7, she will recite her poetry at Mahajati Sadan the next day as renowned artists perform songs based on her poems. The programme, "Shikol Bhangar Golpo" ('Stories of Breaking Chains'), will focus on feminism in poetry and songs dealing with women's love, desires, suffering, resistance and their right to live on their own terms.
She is also scheduled to speak on "Boundaries of Decency and Obscenity in Literature" at BD Auditorium in Salt Lake on October 11. The event will also mark the launch of her English-language children's book, "Jasmine".
Nasreen said that she hoped the evening would be "a lively exchange about literature and the freedom to write", adding that she would sign books, read her poems and listen to the audience's thoughts.
Away from the formal programmes, the writer plans to visit old friends and spend time in adda, something she said she had deeply missed. "So much of my attachment to Kolkata lives in these ordinary moments. I want time to enjoy them again, and to make new memories with the people I have missed," she said. PTI