New Delhi: Taslima Nasreen, the exiled Bangladeshi author, made an urgent appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, requesting permission to continue her stay in India.
In a post on X, Nasreen addressed Shah directly, saying, “Dear AmitShahji Namaskar. I live in India because I love this great country. It has been my second home for the last 20 years. But MHA has not been extending my residence permit since July 2022. I’m so worried. I would be so grateful to you if you let me stay. Warm regards.”
Known for her outspoken views on women’s rights and communalism, Nasreen has faced significant challenges throughout her career, including bans from both Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. She has lived in exile since 1994 due to multiple fatwas calling for her death.
Her notable works, such as “Lajja” (1993) and “Amar Meyebela” (1998), have drawn considerable controversy. “Lajja,” in particular, faced backlash for its graphic depictions of violence against Bengali Hindus following the Babri Masjid demolition in India, leading to its ban in Bangladesh.
Nasreen has spent nearly a decade in various countries, including Sweden, Germany, France, and the United States, before moving to Kolkata in 2004. After staying there until 2007, she relocated to Delhi, where she was placed under house arrest following a physical attack. She left India in 2008 for the US but eventually returned.
As she seeks to secure her future in India, Taslima Nasreen’s situation underscores ongoing debates around freedom of expression and the complexities of her life in exile.