Tuhin Das is a
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
activist and writer living in exile. Das is best known for his
Bengali poetry
Bengali poetry is a rich tradition of poetry in the Bengali language and has many different forms. Originating in the Bengal region of South Asia, the history of Bengali poetry underwent three successive stages of development: poetry of the ear ...
and political essays. His first English book Exile Poems focuses on his life as an exiled writer.
After extremist threats, Tuhin Das fled to America for
political asylum
The right of asylum (sometimes called right of political asylum; ) is an ancient juridical concept, under which people persecuted by their own rulers might be protected by another sovereign authority, like a second country or another enti ...
in 2016. He became a writer-in-residence at
City of Asylum
City of Asylum (more formally City of Asylum/Pittsburgh) is a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that houses writers exiled from their countries for their controversial writing. It provides them with free housing, health ...
in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
which offers sanctuary for persecuted writers. In 2021, his house became a public art installation called ''Comma House'' featuring his Bengali poems.
About
Tuhin Das was born in
Barisal
Barisal ( or ; bn, বরিশাল, ), officially known as Barishal, is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal Dist ...
. He lived there with his family. Das started writing poems in the seventh grade.
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.
In 2016 Das became a visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University. 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
The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...
.
Publications
Tuhin is the author of eight poetry books in Bengali. His books has received generally positive reviews.
* ''Exile Poems: In the Labyrinth of Homesickness''. Translated by Arunava Sinha. Bridge and Tunnel Books, 2022.
See also
*
City of Asylum
City of Asylum (more formally City of Asylum/Pittsburgh) is a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that houses writers exiled from their countries for their controversial writing. It provides them with free housing, health ...
*
List of Bangladeshi poets
Following is a list of Bangladeshi poets, either born in Bangladesh or who published much of their writing while living in the country.
A
*Ahsan Habib
* Abul Hussain
*Abu Zafar Obaidullah
*Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal
*Al Mahmud
*Abul Hasan
* Arunabh ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Das, Tuhin
1985 births
Bengali poetry
Bengali culture
Bengali poetry in English translation
Bengali poets
Bangladeshi poetry
Bengali male poets
Bengali-language poets
Bengali writers
Bengali-language writers
Bengali Hindus
Bangladeshi exiles
Hindu poets
Living people