Kolkata: Bangladesh-born author Taslima Nasrin will visit the birthplace of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar at Birsingha village in Ghatal during her Kolkata visit from Oct 7 to 12. She also expressed her wish to visit writer Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s house at Deulti as it falls on the way to Birsingha.During her six-day trip, Nasrin will be felicitated at Mahajati Sadan on Oct 8, where she will also read out poems that talk about women’s empowerment, women’s rights and the struggles that a woman faces at every stage of her life. Some of her poems centering around women will also be sung by three female singers and three female musicians.This will be her second visit to the city after Nasrin returned to Kolkata in Aug after 19 years. She was forced to leave the city in Nov 2007 following violent protests over her presence.“I would pay a visit to Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s birthplace at Birsingha village during my visit to Kolkata this time. I want to pay my respects for what he has done for women — starting from widow remarriages and his other initiatives such as encouraging women’s education. I would also like to stop at Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s house if that falls on our way. I used to stay awake and read Chattopadhyay’s novels during my school days. I finished reading Chattopadhyay in school, so I am keen to visit his house too and pay my respect,” Nasrin told TOI.Osman Mallick, who will accompany Nasrin to Birsingha, said: “Taslima-didi along with other writers and painters will visit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s residence at Birsingha. We will also visit Bhagabati Balika Vidyalaya that he founded at Birsingha. We also have plans to visit Sarat Chandra’s residence at Deulti-Panitras.”The 63-year-old author added: “At the Mahajati Sadan event, I will read out my poems that revolve around women’s freedom and their rights. It will also speak against the violence towards women. After every poem recited by me, there will be a song composed from my poem. Seven women, including me, will talk strictly about women at the event.”Sharing her other plans, Nasrin said that she will attend a magazine inauguration; two of her books, including a children’s book of hers written in English, will be released. She will also participate in an event at Mahabodhi Society on Oct 12 before returning to Delhi. “I have plans to stay for a month during the Kolkata book fair to attend it. I have a strong desire to stay here but right now I don’t have the opportunity to stay here. If there is ever a real opportunity to stay, and if I feel confident that I can stay without anyone throwing me out, then I will. Right now, I just have a frequent urge to visit the city,” Nasrin said.Rajib Mukherjee, co-founder of NGO Le Rythme, said, “The Mahajati Sadan programme titled ‘Breaking the Shackles’ focuses on women empowerment. We will felicitate around 18 women achievers with ‘Uma Samman’, including Taslima Nasrin, Papiya Adhikari, Kalita Majhi and Abhaya’s mother Ratna Debnath. The programme will feature a dance by Maitreyee Pahari. Eminent personalities will be given the ‘Rini Mukherjee Lifetime Achievement Award’, which has been named after my wife.”
