Noted author Taslima Nasreen was in the city to attend the launch ceremony of Hindi book Baa by Giriraj Kishore. Namita Panda of The Telegraph spoke to the exiled Bangladeshi author on her life, books, debates and more.

You have been to Odisha before. How do you like it here?

I have been here twice before this. I love the place for the warmth, sympathy and simplicity of the people. I feel safe and at home here since the local culture and language is similar to that of mine. I especially love the art and architecture of the Konark Sun Temple.

Litterateurs are expressing their concern on 'intolerance' in the country by returning their awards. What is your opinion?

Intolerant people exist everywhere in the world and India is no exception. But as a country, India upholds individual human values and rights and is safer for people than Pakistan or Bangladesh. There are still some laws oppressing women, particularly in the Muslim community. But I would not like to call India an intolerant country despite the fact that I was attacked in Hyderabad.

In a recent Tweet on Valentine's Day, you said that people have an issue when love is expressed openly and not when hatred is...

For me, Valentine's Day is not important personally as I don't need one day as a day of love. Every day should be celebrated for love since the rest of the days are not days to hate! But, I am happy for people who celebrate it. Sadly, when hatred is shown in public, no one resists it this way like they do when love is expressed openly.

Despite the constant threats you receive, you have been writing on rebellious themes. What inspires you?

May be because I cannot but write. When I started writing at the age of 13, it was the only form through which I could express my feelings easily though I didn't have many readers. Now, I write since I have dreams of a better world where women and men are respected equally. I don't want to see injustice and inequality.

Which is your favourite book among those that you have written?

I guess I could say like all authors do that I'm yet to write my best work. Still, if I was to choose I would say My Girlhood was very special for me.

You were once a practising physician. Do you ever miss that profession?

I practised at a medical college for eight-and-a-half years. But now, those times seem to be from another life. I was not allowed to practise because of my writings and now, after 22 years of quitting the profession, I often forget I was a physician. I do not miss it much though.

How important is the place of women writers in the literature on women today?

Earlier, women's lives were expressed mostly by male writers. But no one can express a woman's experience like another woman. Of course, literature on women and women writers should come up in greater number since their stories need to be documented well.