Tuhin Das (writer)
Tuhin Das is a Bengali activist and writer living in exile. Das is best known for his Bengali poetry and political essays. His first English book Exile Poems focuses on his life as an exiled writer.[1]
Tuhin Das | |
---|---|
Born | 1985 (age 37–38) Barisal, Bangladesh |
Occupation | Activist, poet, writer |
Language | Bengali, English |
Genre | essay, poetry |
Years active | 2000–present |
Notable works | Exile Poems |
Website | |
tuhindas |
After extremist threats, Tuhin Das fled to America for political asylum in 2016. He became a writer-in-residence at City of Asylum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania which offers sanctuary for persecuted writers.[2] In 2021, his house became a public art installation called Comma House featuring his Bengali poems.[3]
About
Tuhin Das was born in Barisal. He lived there with his family. Das started writing poems in the seventh grade.[4] Das was fascinated with the formation of his home country from an early age. He would establish and run his own publishing company which covered political issues. Das went into hiding after Al Qaeda-linked groups threatened him.[5]
In 2016 Das became a visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University.[6] He found a long-term home in Pittsburgh becoming the writer-in-residence at City of Asylum.
Activism
Tuhin Das writes political essays. His essays contained criticism of Muslim treatment of Hindu and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. He organized protests and urged the government to establish tribunals for war crimes that occurred during Bangladesh Liberation War.[4]
Publications
Tuhin is the author of eight poetry books in Bengali.[7] His books has received generally positive reviews.[8]
- Exile Poems: In the Labyrinth of Homesickness. Translated by Arunava Sinha. Bridge and Tunnel Books, 2022. ISBN 978-1946645043
See also
References
- O'Driscoll, Bill (21 June 2022). "Dissident Bangladeshi writer explores homesickness, and Pittsburgh, in new poetry collection". WESA (FM). Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- Shisman, Natalya (3 July 2022). "Tuhin Das: Learning to love a new home, and an old one". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- Johnson, Michelle (16 February 2022). "Finding Refuge and Inspiration in the "City of Bridges": A Conversation with Tuhin Das". World Literature Today. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- "Tuhin Das: Poet, Activist and Writer in Exile". Voice of America. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- "6 Bangladeshi Activists Threatened By Al Qaeda-Linked Islamists". The Economic Times. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- Hirsch, Daniel (28 September 2017). "Professor Kathy M. Newman Wants You To Read Banned Books". Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
Islamic fundamentalist groups known for murdering these writers have targeted Das.
- "Meet Tuhin Das from Bangladesh: Poet, Activist and Writer in Exile". Newsgram. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- Waltz, Hannah (27 July 2022). "An Interview with Tuhin Das". PEN America. Retrieved 13 October 2022.