Zia Haider Rahman: In Conversation with Kaiser Haq
On November 6, 2025, the Department of English and Humanities (DEH) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted a conversation featuring British author Zia Haider Rahman and Professor Kaiser Haq, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities. The event centered around Mr. Rahman’s acclaimed novel, In the Light of What We Know, which was awarded the prestigious James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Mr. Rahman, an author with a background in investment banking and international human rights law, received his education at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Yale University.
The event commenced with an opening speech by Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, Head of the Department of English and Humanities. She extended a warm welcome to the guest speaker and Professor Kaiser Haq along with the faculty members and students. She introduced Zia Haider Rahman, highlighting his diverse professional journey and his current work on two non-fiction books, one of which is said to be a critique of liberal elites from the West.
Professor Kaiser Haq opened the discussion by remarking on the critical success of In the Light of What We Know, noting its enthusiastic international reception. Professor Haq then provided a brief overview of the author's background, tracing his journey from his birth in Sylhet, Bangladesh, to his upbringing in London, and finally, his distinguished academic achievements. Professor Haq framed the novel as a compelling and emotionally complex work that masterfully blends the author's personal experiences with broader geopolitical events.
Mr. Rahman appreciated having been invited to the ULAB for the talk. He then delved into the intricate relationship between autobiography and fiction in his work. He explained that while his novel is deeply informed by his life experiences, with an estimated thirty-seven percent of the dialogues derived from lived conversations and observations, it is a deliberate piece of fiction.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the literary style conceived by the postcolonial writer. Professor Haq inquired about how Mr. Rahman developed his distinctive narrative voice. In response, Mr. Rahman critiqued a tendency in some South Asian literary authors to explain cultural contexts for western readers, likening it to orientalist reporting. He advocated a style that shows and not only tells, emphasizing implementations of solely necessary explanations within narratives like R.K. Narayan. He stressed his intention to produce authentic works, resisting the pressure to cater to Western expectations or to be tokenized as a representative of a particular identity.
The conversation also explored the economics of contemporary literary fiction. Mr. Rahman, reflecting on the genre's limited financial rewards, noted how his primary goal is to transform his book into a public good. He elaborated that a writer’s most valuable commodity is not the book as a product, but the time and attention of its readers.
Following the discussion, Mr. Rahman read a poignant section from his novel which described a train crash in Sylhet. In doing so, he offered the audience a direct experience of his powerful prose and narrative style.
The event concluded with a lively question-and-answer session. Topics ranged from the author’s use of literary references and parallels within the novel, to the book’s reception in the Global South, and the author’s thoughts on current political landscapes. Mr. Rahman also answered questions about his own academic choices in mathematics and law. His statement, “I am a product of circumstance, and something could happen with my gifts,” served as a powerful summary of his life journey, acknowledging the opportunities that shaped him and his determination to use his talents for a greater purpose.
As a gesture of appreciation, Professor Kaiser Haq presented a gift of books to Zia Haider Rahman. The seminar culminated on a reflective note and a vote of thanks by Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman.
Report by Rushnan Aman (231013066)
