Kolkata: Bangladesh-born author Taslima Nasrin on Thursday reiterated her desire to stay permanently in Kolkata because she wanted to “stay closer to Bengali language and culture”.Speaking on the sidelines of a cultural event at Mahajati Sadan. Nasrin said: “It was for Kolkata that I left Europe and America. I wanted to live in Kolkata. When I was driven out of Kolkata, I just stayed back in Delhi. But I didn’t leave Europe for Delhi; I left it for Kolkata. I felt that I would return to my language, to my Bengali culture. If possible, I will definitely try to stay in Kolkata. Now, the CM has said I can come whenever I want. If he says I can stay back, then I will stay back.”The 63-year-old author said she missed Bengal. “I am not allowed to go to Bangladesh. Today, I’ve been allowed to come to Kolkata. I am grateful to everyone. I am a European citizen, but I don’t live in Europe. I came to Bengal drawn by my soul,” she added.Nasrin said she wanted to attend the Mahalaya event at Eden Gardens with her friends. “I really wish to enjoy it,” she added.Launching a sharp attack on madrasas, the exiled Bangladesh author said: “I know specifically about madrasas in Bangladesh, I don’t know much about them in India. In Bangladesh, madrasas have sprouted up everywhere like water hyacinths. In those madrasas, children are abused. These are being brought to the govt’s notice, but it does nothing. We speak out a lot, but it doesn’t stop because it has been going on for many years. That is why I always say shut down madrasas and start secular schools. That will benefit children and everyone will have a healthy society.”Nasrin recited her poems depicting women’s rights, freedom and struggles at the event, ‘Breaking the Shackles’, organised by the NGO Le Rhythme. She was felicitated with ‘Uma Samman’ along with MLA Ratna Debnath, Maneka Sircar, dancer Maitreyee Pahari and others. P C Sircar Jr was honoured with ‘Rini Mukherjee Life Time Achievement Award’ along with P C Chandra Group MD Arun Kumar Chandra, Rabindra Sangeet singer Biva Sengupta and others.
