VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html JKSSB Exam Calendar 2026 released with complete September to December recruitment examination schedule ‘GDN’ first review: R Madhavan’s performance as wins hearts as India’s ‘Edison’ in emotional biopic ahead of August 7 release 10 Himachali dishes that are naturally healthy Experts used ‘Judas goats’ to hunt down their own kind, eliminating over 140,000 invasive goats in a $10.5 million mission to save the Galapagos’ native wildlife Nearly half of India’s workforce wants a new job. Here’s why A 45,000-year-old crystal tool found in France suggests Neanderthals chose beauty as well as practicality | World News CSIR NET June 2026 answer key expected soon at csirnet.nta.nic.in: Check steps to download, once released R Madhavan addresses ‘sanghi’ label, responds to ‘Dhurandhar’ propaganda criticism: ‘If someone makes me feel bad, I want to question their intent’ How to clean a gas burner naturally: 5 easy tips for a cleaner, stronger flame | ‘Consumers paying more’: Congress alleges E20 has tilted benefits towards ethanol producers After losing both grandparents, 17-year-old Hudson Waters recreated their Illinois home inside a backyard shed using their furniture, flowers and decorations Saurav Das has slammed critics over the widespread scrutiny faced by the party’s top leadership. NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Sourav Das Wednesday accused “certain YouTubers and media channels” of “breaking into” his house and “showing the visuals from inside”.Calling it a “an invasion of privacy” and “a grave security threat,” Das said: “If anti-social elements attack me at my residence as a result of this, these YouTubers and their troll handlers who are coordinating this will be directly responsible!”Earlier, Das slammed critics over the widespread scrutiny faced by the party’s top leadership on social media platforms.In a post on social media, Das appeared to refer to criticism directed at the party’s leaders and supporters, writing, “Someone please compile all these stories for a future CJP stand-up comedy special!”The Cockroach Janta Party began as a satirical online response to a statement by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant but later developed into a broader youth-led campaign. The movement has focused on issues including exam security, administrative reforms and employment-related concerns.Who is Saurav DasDas became one of CJP’s most visible representatives due to his background in journalism and his ability to present arguments through data, documents and legal references.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAlongside CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, policy strategist Ashutosh Ranka and lawyer Ratna Singh, Das has been involved in presenting the movement’s views in public discussions, interviews and protests.Das gained wider attention after a public exchange with BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut during an interview on Mojo Story. The discussion involved comments related to Gen Z protesters, after which Das’s response attracted significant attention on social media.Following the exchange, Ranaut’s remarks questioning Das’s background and status as a young activist further increased online discussion around him.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. On off days, when not turning pages or learning русский, he lives in the reverie of “what ifs” and “how abouts.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Responds After Pakistan Deploys Chinese SH-15 Howitzers Along BorderJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest123PhotostoriesNormal blood sugar doesn’t always mean you’re healthy: Hyderabad doctor explains the silent metabolic problem that can begin years before diabetesFrom animal fat to graphite brows: Ancient China’s beauty rituals were more advanced than you thinkGhajini actor Pradeep Rawat died after blood cancer relapse: Doctors explain why the disease can return years after successful treatmentScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh ECB ‘unhappy’ as Ireland defy England’s policy, host Afghanistan for ODI series NCERT declares RIE CEE 2026 result at cee.ncert.gov.in: Direct link to download rank card here Who is the mysterious ‘Web Kid’ in Tom Holland and Zendaya’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ emotional ending? Meet 7-year-old Elvis Carlos Do diapers affect a baby’s ability to walk? What research says about mobility, walking and whether parents should worry | SpaceX rocket piece ‘crashes’ into Moon: 4-tonne stage hurtles in at 8,700 kmph A livestream from Greenland’s UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord captured a mammoth iceberg rolling over and exposing its blue underside Supreme Court clarifies interim order for new sorganisations on audio-video clips of court proceedings NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has clarified that its July 24 interim order prohibiting news organisations from sharing or uploading audio and video clips of court hearings does not bar them from reporting on judicial proceedings, but that they cannot use such recordings as part of their reportage.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the restriction is confined to the use of audio and video recordings of judicial proceedings in news reports and should not be interpreted as a blanket ban on reportage by media organisations. Such outlets may, therefore, continue to report on the proceedings and inform the general public of legal developments and judicial pronouncements.”It appears, however, that some confusion persists in respect of paragraph 11 of the earlier order, which this court deems necessary to clarify. The said paragraph makes it clear that the order is not to be construed as imposing a blanket prohibition on the reporting of court proceedings by recognised news outlets,” the bench said in an order on July 31, PTI reported.However, the news organisations will have to follow the restrictions set out in paragraph 10 of the earlier order.”In sum, while news outlets may continue to report on the court proceedings, they shall nonetheless remain bound by the restrictions set out in paragraph 10,” the bench added.The clarification came after Supreme Court noted that “some confusion persists” over the interim order, which barred posting and uploading of audio-video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media and other digital platforms without prior permission of the court administration.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“As an interim measure, it is directed that there shall be no extraction, modification, dissemination, monetisation, posting, reposting and uploading of audio-video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media or other digital platforms without prior permission of the secretary general of this court or the registrar general of the jurisdictional high courts,” the bench had stated in that order.The Supreme Court had also issued notices to the Centre and others, including some social media platforms, seeking their responses on the plea filed by a journalist.Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner, had described the issue raised in the petition as “very important.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Responds After Pakistan Deploys Chinese SH-15 Howitzers Along BorderJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest123PhotostoriesFrom animal fat to graphite brows: Ancient China’s beauty rituals were more advanced than you thinkGhajini actor Pradeep Rawat died after blood cancer relapse: Doctors explain why the disease can return years after successful treatmentScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth date123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh When MS Dhoni stepped away, Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri toughened up Indian cricket: Ajinkya Rahane India’s services PMI hits over 4.5-year low as demand, new orders lose momentum Rajasthan ITI 1st seat allotment merit list 2026 released, document verification begins August 6 Ravi Kishan’s fitness secret at 57: Actor shares that vegetarianism, Tai Chi, and coconut milk are key elements behind his health How to clean mixer grinder blades without causing rust: 5 easy tips that help them stay sharp longer | How an eel elevator on Maine’s Penobscot River helped restore millions of fish and brought humpback whales back | Cesar Gastelum: Mexican TikTok influencer Cesar Gastelum is shot dead during a livestream in Culiacan Sinaloa Aug 05, 2026, 15:10 IST JKSSB recruitment 2026 notification released for 518 posts; applications begin from September 10 Nayanthara or Trisha likely to reunite with Karthi in Mohan Raja’s next film: Report Bihar Snake Festival: Hundreds carry ‘LIVE’ snakes during Bihar’s Nag Panchami mela; the fascinating history behind Samastipur’s centuries-old serpent festival In 2006, a tiny deep-reef fish was pulled from deep water off South Australia and misidentified; nearly 20 years later, scientists recognised a new species ‘Remake of Dravidian model’: Ex-Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin calls Vijay government’s budget a ‘waste’ Dubai Cylinder Blast: Indian expat from Kerala killed in Dubai gas cylinder blast; colleague recalls moments before explosion | World News Listen to youth, read, learn, understand Parliament: PM Modi guides newly elected BJP MPs on grassroots connectivity Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted a breakfast meeting for newly elected BJP Rajya Sabha MPs and those who recently joined the party, during which he guided the parliamentarians on various issues and shared effective ways to connect with the youth.The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence, saw the participation of 37 parliamentarians, including those who recently switched to the BJP from parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC).Speaking to after the interaction, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney described the experience as “wonderful” and noted that the Prime Minister offered guidance rooted in his own decades of public service.”The Prime Minister hosted newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs and those who have recently joined the BJP for breakfast this morning…It was a wonderful experience…Drawing from his own public life and experience, he offered valuable guidance on how seriously we should take Parliament. He emphasised that Parliament must function smoothly…He further encouraged MPs to spend at least one or two hours each day in the Parliament Library…He also encouraged MPs to engage with the youth and actively implement the MP Sports Scheme in their respective constituencies,” Sahney said.Focusing on the younger generation, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal shared a specific piece of advice from the Prime Minister on building a rapport with Gen Z.”I asked the PM how to connect with youth. The PM said, ‘Listen to them carefully, understand them, and talk to them politely.’ It was a very good meeting where we got to seek guidance on personal, social, and political matters,” Mittal told ANI.BJP MP Rahul Sinha highlighted the inclusive nature of the interaction, noting that the Prime Minister took the time to listen to every individual present.”We are fortunate that our PM listened to each one of us and gave important guidance. MPs who came from AAP and TMC recently and joined BJP, and are presently Rajya Sabha MPs, also met Prime Minister Modi today,” Sinha said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted a breakfast meeting with 37 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs at his residence as part of his ongoing interactions with parliamentarians during the monsoon session of Parliament.During the meeting, the Prime Minister is said to have shared personal experiences and held informal discussions with the MPs.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThose who attended included MPs associated with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) alliance, former AAP leaders who later joined the BJP, as well as senior party leaders Tarun Chugh, Vinod Tawde, and party president Nitin Nabin.The breakfast meeting was part of the Prime Minister’s practice of meeting different groups of BJP MPs during Parliament sessions to interact and exchange views.This comes amid the opposition’s protests demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi in Parliament, seeking their response on issues concerning the public.Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM today amid continued disruptions in the House.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesGhajini actor Pradeep Rawat died after blood cancer relapse: Doctors explain why the disease can return years after successful treatmentScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh The Indian scientist who bent light — and changed the internet forever: Why Dr Narinder Singh Kapany is called the ‘Father of Fiber Optics’ Bunnie Xo says she can never get married after split with Jelly Roll: ‘Betrayal trauma literally rewires your brain’ Hotel Key Cards: Why do hotels use key cards instead of traditional keys? The real reasons explained TN SSLC supplementary result 2026 declared at dge.tn.gov.in: Direct link to download Class 10 marks memo here ‘Extremely hazardous’: Seafarers’ union urges PM Modi to deploy Navy after Indian vessel sinks RVUNL recruitment 2026 applications begin for 2,005 Junior Engineer, Accountant and Assistant posts; apply here ‘Batwara 1947’ actress Preity Zinta returns to films after 8 years, reflects on choosing motherhood over movies: ‘My greatest milestone was to have children’ Meet Dr Neeraja Nagarajan: After 13 years in America, this physician-scientist and former McKinsey executive moved to India and her story is going viral | Ekadashi in August 2026: Date, parana time, puja rituals and significance Jana Nayagan Full Movie Collection: ‘Jana Nayagan’ box office collection day 14 [Live]: Vijay and Pooja Hegde starrer eyes Rs 215 crore milestone despite weekday dip | Tamil Movie News Across America’s three coasts, 84% of wetlands are slowly submerging; only 16% are rising fast enough to keep pace with the sea Taslima Nasrin For 19 years, Taslima Nasreen carried Kolkata in her memories, longing to return but unable to do so. The city that had become her “second home” after she left Bangladesh in 1994 remained out of reach. Forced to flee her country of birth and later compelled to leave the city where she had settled, Nasreen spent much of the past three decades moving from one place to another, not in search of adventure but of refuge, without quite recovering the sense of home she associated with Kolkata.That door finally opened nearly 19 years later.Nasreen set foot in the City of Joy on July 31 and received a civic felicitation at Rabindra Sadan on August 1. The visit was accompanied by a warm official welcome from West Bengal’s new government, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assuring the writer of security whenever she chose to visit.The author, who was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007, responded with gratitude. “It’s not just the city I return to; for me, it’s a homecoming to a lost chapter of my life,” she said.The change of government has given Nasreen fresh hope of spending more time in Kolkata, something that did not become possible under the previous two administrations. But it has also raised a more difficult question: Is her return merely a ceremonial visit, or could it be the first step towards once again making Kolkata her home?Homecoming: Delayed, but not deniedIn November 2007, Kolkata witnessed violent protests by groups opposed to Nasreen and her writings, including her memoir Dwikhandito. Amid concerns over her safety and the worsening law-and-order situation, the authorities moved her out of the city.She was taken first to Jaipur and later kept under security in New Delhi before eventually leaving India for Europe. Her repeated appeals to successive governments to let her return to Kolkata did not produce a result.Almost two decades and two changes of government later, her return became possible. “Taslima Nasreen’s return proves that Bengal is in good hands now. Threats and intimidation are in the past. Every pillar of the Constitution and fundamental rights are safe,” Adhikari said at the felicitation.“You can come to Kolkata whenever you want, as many times as you want, and stay as long as you want. As the chief minister and police minister of Bengal, I am personally responsible for your security.” Nasreen was equally effusive in her gratitude.“History remembers who shut the door. Now, history will also remember who reopened it,” she said. “The opening of this door proves injustice can feel like a long night, but it’s never permanent.” But the cordial exchange also opened a larger conversation.Can Kolkata become a sanctuary to which Nasreen returns not merely as a guest but as a long-term resident? The answer is not straightforward. The chief minister can assure her of security within the state, but any longer-term residential arrangement would also depend on her visa status and decisions by the appropriate immigration authorities. Visa extensions and residential permits for foreign nationals are handled through the FRRO/FRO system and, in some cases, the Union home ministry.Kolkata: Then and nowNineteen years is a long time, particularly in a period of rapid political and social change. The Kolkata Nasreen knew in the early 2000s is not the city to which she has returned.For the writer, “every year in banishment looked like a door heavily bolted”. Meanwhile, although the government that moved her out of the city is no longer in power, her return has acquired a new and complicated political context.Nasreen has not forgotten how abruptly she had to leave Kolkata while the Left Front governed Bengal. She remains sharply critical of the Left, accusing sections of it of failing to defend free-thinkers while claiming to stand for secularism and progressive values.But the Kolkata of 2026 is governed by the BJP, and Nasreen’s return unfolded amid the symbols and slogans associated with its politics. Chief Minister Adhikari was welcomed at Rabindra Sadan with chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, a religious invocation that has also become a prominent political slogan.Nasreen has consistently argued that religion and the state should remain separate.“Humanity has to be bigger than any doctrine,” she said during her homecoming address.She also sought to draw a clear line between gratitude and political endorsement. “I’m thankful to this government for letting me return. But my gratitude doesn’t warrant my allegiance to them. I haven’t come here for any political party,” she said.The question, therefore, is not whether she is grateful to the government that facilitated her return. She plainly is. The harder question is whether Kolkata can protect her right to disagree with the same establishment if her views become inconvenient to it.The cultural composition of the felicitation offered another indication of how much the city’s public life has changed. For a ceremony honouring one of the Bengali language’s most internationally recognised writers, relatively few prominent members of the literary fraternity were present.Novelist Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, who had been expected to attend, was absent. Poet Joy Goswami was present, but his appearance led to the most uncomfortable moment of the evening.When Nasreen invited Goswami to join her on the stage, a section of the audience erupted in protest, shouting slogans and objecting to his presence on the dais. Goswami, who had begun walking towards the stage, turned around and returned to his seat.The disruption continued for several minutes. Nasreen waited quietly before appealing to the audience to calm down and allow the programme to continue.The irony was difficult to miss. An event organised to celebrate a writer who had spent decades defending freedom of expression had briefly become a venue for preventing another poet from speaking.The hostility appeared to be connected to Goswami’s perceived proximity to the previous Trinamool Congress establishment and criticism that prominent cultural figures had not done enough to defend Nasreen when she was made to leave Kolkata. Whatever the political grievance, however, it could not justify denying him the opportunity to speak after Nasreen herself had invited him.Goswami did not confront the protesters and later left Rabindra Sadan without reading the poem he had written for Nasreen.“Everyone has the right to speak. When someone speaks about freedom of expression, people support it; but when a poet is invited to speak, they do not want to hear him. That is not right,” Nasreen said the following day.“It wasn’t just Joy who was insulted. I was also insulted because I had invited him.”The organisers also expressed regret over the incident. Nasreen subsequently spoke to Goswami by telephone after being unable to visit him during the trip.The episode showed how quickly cultural spaces can become arenas for political resentment. For all the celebration surrounding Nasreen’s homecoming, Kolkata is still negotiating the same difficult questions about dissent, ideological loyalty and the right to disagree that formed the background to her departure.The real test will not be how warmly the city welcomes her when her presence suits the political moment. It will be whether Kolkata continues to defend her when she says something those in power, or their supporters, do not wish to hear.Where to next?Kolkata has reopened its doors to Nasreen after nearly 19 years. Her own homeland, however, remains out of reach. After Lajja provoked widespread outrage among Islamist groups, Nasreen faced threats and criminal proceedings over her writings and public statements. Her Bangladeshi passport was revoked, and she left the country in 1994.Nearly 32 years later, she has still not been able to return permanently. Exile remains the defining condition of her life. “The number of years I’ve been away from home has already surpassed the sum of time I was allowed to live there,” said Nasreen, who will turn 64 later this month.And yet she has supported former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s right to return to the country, even though Nasreen has said that Hasina’s government opposed her own attempts to return to Bangladesh in 1999. “I’ve criticised Sheikh Hasina in the past,” Nasreen said. “The ban on the Awami League must be revoked since it’s undemocratic. Sheikh Hasina wants to return. I want her to return for the sake of democracy in Bangladesh.”Hasina, who has been living in India since her government fell in August 2024, has said she intends to return to Bangladesh by December despite a death sentence handed down in absentia, which she rejects as politically motivated. She was scheduled to make her first public appearance since her ouster through a virtual address in New Delhi on August 5.Nasreen’s defence of Hasina’s right to return is notable precisely because of their history. It is an argument that the right to go home should not depend on political sympathy or personal gratitude. “No one wants my return. Sheikh Hasina did not. Neither did Khaleda Zia nor those who came to power subsequently,” Nasreen said, her disappointment over the repeated refusals unmistakable.But she refuses to abandon hope. “It took me 19 years to be able to say, ‘Kolkata, I’ve come back to you’,” she said. “I have tears in my eyes, but I come with a heart full of love.”Her return to the City of Joy has renewed her belief that seemingly permanent barriers can eventually fall. “Nineteen years stand between my exile and return. But the opening of this door proves injustice can be long-standing but never permanent.”Perhaps that is why Nasreen continues to dream of a day “when no writer has to live in exile from her own country”. She hopes Bangladesh will one day separate religion from the state and become a country where women have equal rights, minorities can live with dignity and free-thinkers and non-believers are not threatened for their views.In India’s neighbouring country, that day may yet come. For now, Nasreen is grateful that she can at least return to Kolkata, revisit its familiar spaces and, she hopes, attend the Book Fair as she once did.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHer former address in the city no longer belongs to her. Kolkata has changed, and the pet that once helped make the city feel like home is no longer alive. But after nearly 19 years, Taslima Nasreen has returned, carrying with her hope, unfinished arguments and, perhaps, a few more lives in reserve.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for love123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh Centre forms DGHS-led panel to review NEET-PG admissions as Supreme Court seeks report Inside R Madhavan’s Mumbai home at BKC worth Rs 17.5 crore, spanning across 4,182 square feet with meditation room, balcony with fruit trees and more That empty wall doesn’t need another painting: 8 DIY ideas to turn blank space into something useful Student booing AI at graduation ceremonies has not stopped their ‘love’ for the tech for doing assignments and other work