How she’s surviving, Taslima tells friend

Nasreen had reportedly emailed the letter to a friend to be read out in public. Dipankar Chakrabarty, editor of magazine Aneek said, “The letter was partly read out by Mahasweta Devi and partly by me on January 2 at a conference held at the Mahabodhi Society premises.” Chakrabarty is also the vice-president of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR).

“What have I done to deserve this lonely existence full of uncertainties and despair? I do not believe my writings have anything to do with the incidents of November 21. If it had, then I would have been allowed to return to Kolkata after I removed the controversial lines from my book Dwikhandito,” wrote Nasreen. “Which opposing force is preventing my return to Kolkata?” was a recurrent question in her letter.

In her letter, Nasreen has also questioned the justification of restricting her movements in New Delhi. “There has been no protest or rally against me in Delhi, so why am I being deprived of a normal social life?” she questioned.

Nareen also spoke of how even brief meetings with friends and relatives, arranged by the authorities, are held under the vigilant eyes of the Centre. “It is the government’s discretion to allow these meetings. Even the time of the meeting is determined by them,” she said.

“I am not the victim of fundamentalism. I am the victim of politics which appeases fundamentalism,” she said.

At the end of her letter, Nasreen has highlighted how India has always openly embraced people seeking shelter. “This has always made me proud of India. I hope that I will continue to be proud this country for the rest of my life,” she wrote.