Taslima Nasreen returns to India

The future plans of the doctor-turned writer, who shot to fame with her controversial book Lajja, were not immediately known. Her visa is valid till August 12. She has been requesting for permanent residence in the country but the Government has not taken any decision on the issue.

Taslima had left India on March 18 for Sweden after she was kept in a safe house in the national capital for more than four months. Taslima, who had not been allowed to see any visitors during the period, had described her confinement as living in “a chamber of death”.

Taslima has lived in many countries in exile including France, Sweden and India since 1994. During her stay in India in the last five years, she has periodically traveled abroad with the last trip being in November last year before she was bundled out of West Bengal.

Recipient of various awards, Taslima was shifted from Kolkata residence after violent protests marred parts of the metropolis over her controversial book Dwihondito (divided into two).

Certain references by her in the book stirred a storm with some Muslim organisations demanding that she be asked to leave the state.

Taslima was packed off from Kolkata and shifted to Jaipur. The Rajasthan government decided to shift her to Delhi after some Muslim organisations threatened state-wide protests against her stay.

Despite the writer’s wish to return to Kolkata, the Left Front government in West Bengal did not pay any heed to her request.

The Bangladeshi author had said that she was “forced” to depart from Kolkata at such a short notice that she did not have time to even change her clothes.

The CPI (M) came under increasing attack on Taslima issue, with major national parties demanding protection and extension of her visa.

A Swedish passport holder, she flew to Sweden from Delhi on March 18 and was admitted to hospital.