Muhammed Zafar Iqbal

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Muhammed Zafar Iqbal on a picnic day in 2001 with his students.
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal on a picnic day in 2001 with his students.

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (Bengali: মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল) (born December 23, 1952) is a Bangladeshi academian, scientist, writer of children’s books and science-fiction and columnist. He is a professor of Computer Science at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Iqbal is a science fiction writer in the Bangla language. He was elected as one of the best ten Bangali.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal with his wife, Yasmeen Haq
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal with his wife, Yasmeen Haq

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal was born on 23 December 1952 in Sylhet. His father, Foyzur Rahman Ahmed was a police officer and because of his fathers occupation, he traveled various parts of the country as a child. Zafar Iqbal was inspired by his father for writing at an early life and wrote his first science fiction at the age of seven. On 5 May 1971 Pakistan Army captured his father and killed him in front of a river. Iqbal had to dig his father’s grave to convince her mother about his death. First publication of Zafar Iqbal’s science fiction came at the famous weekly "Bichitra" as he wrote a short story titled "Kopotronik Bhalobasha" (Kopotronik Love). One of the readers claimed the story as a plagiarism to make Iqbal annoyed and he wrote a series of stories under the title as a result. He passed SSC from Bogra Zilla School in 1968 and HSC in 1970 from Dhaka College. He joined in Dhaka University at the department of Physics in 1972. In 1976, Zafar Iqbal went to University of Washington in USA to obtain his Ph. D. There he met his university colleague Yasmin Haque and a year later they were married. In 1992, Iqbal decided to come back to his country what according to him he planned to do "the day he left the country".[1] He and his wife have two children, son Nabil and daughter Yeshim, who translated the book "Amar Bondhu Rashed" (Rashed, my friend) written by her father. His elder brother Humayun Ahmed is a living legend, and considered one of the most popular writers of Bengali Language. Younger brother Ahsan Habib is the editor of satirical magazine, 'Unmad'(Mad) and a cartoonist as well as popular writer.

[edit] Life and career

Iqbal studied Physics at the University of Dhaka and graduated in 1975. He obtained his PhD from the University of Washington in 1982. He had a distinguished career at Caltech and then worked for the Bell Labs in New Jersey. He worked in California Institute of Technology from 1983 to 1988 as a Post Doctoral Faculty. He joined Bell Communications Research in 1988 and worked there as a Research Scientist until 1994. Since 1994 he is a professor and the Head of the Department of the Computer Science and Engineering of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.

[edit] Literature

Zafar Iqbal started writing since his college days and became very popular with his teen-adventure novels, a rarity in Bangla literature in the late 1970s. His writing career was interrupted when he came to study and work in the USA. While abroad, his first two science fiction books came out, meeting great critical and popular acclaim. He returned to Bangladesh in early 1990s, leaving his successful career in the US, and joined a Shahjalal University of Science and Technology to teach Physics and Computer Science. After his return, he took up the causes of promoting science to young children, building a first-rate science education program at the university, and promoting freedom of thought. His latter cause and his opposition to the religious fundamentalism put him in direct conflict with the religious fanatics.

Although he writes fiction and non-fiction for grown-ups, he is at his creative best with his novels for adolescents. The young people in his novels are everyday boys and girls, seek and find adventure in their otherwise unremarkable and modest lives. They go through tough times with wonderful sense of optimism and wide eyed curiosity. A couple of his novels have been made into motion pictures.

[edit] Columns

Iqbal writes a regular column in the popular Daily Prothom Alo called Sadha-Sidhe Kotha (Simple Talk). He has written numerous columns apart from this regular one as well.

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is reviewing the answer scripts of an exam on a rainy day in front of his office (2006).
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is reviewing the answer scripts of an exam on a rainy day in front of his office (2006).

[edit] Science and mathematics

Iqbal, together with Mohammad Kaykobad, started the Mathematics Festival in Bangladesh, probably the first attempt to popularize recreational (and serious) mathematics in Bangladesh. This led to Bangladesh attending the International Mathematical Olympiad for the first time in 2005.

[edit] Threats on Him

In an open public meeting, Iqbal was threatened by the fundamentalists though he never took a position against religion as Taslima Nasrin or Humayun Azad did. Even minor bombing has occurred. He was threated by the members of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir in August 2006 at his University Campus.".[2]

[edit] Awards

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal won the best dramatist award in the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards in 2005.[3]

[edit] Literary Works

[edit] Science Fiction

Autograph hunting; Muhammed Zafar Iqbal in Bangla Academy's Ekushey Boi Mela. (2007).
Autograph hunting; Muhammed Zafar Iqbal in Bangla Academy's Ekushey Boi Mela. (2007).
  • Kopotronik Sukh-Dukkho (Copotronic Joy and Sorrow) (1976)
  • Mohakashe Mohatrash (1977)
  • Crugo (1988)
  • Tukunzil(1993)
  • Omikronik Rupantor (Omicronic metamorphosis)(1993)
  • System Ediphas
  • Obonil (Infra-Blue) (2004)
  • Triton Ekti Groher Nam (Triton, the Name of a Planet)(1988)
  • Ekjon Otimanobi (A Superlady)
  • Noy Noy Sunno Tin (Nine Nine Zero Three)
  • Cromium Oronno (The Cromium Forest}
  • Metsys (1999)
  • Nishongo Grohochari (The Lone Planatery Traveler)
  • Jolojo (Born in Water) (2000)
  • Robonogori (A City of Robots)
  • Eron
  • Project Nebula (2001)
  • Fobeaner Jatri (The Traveller of Fobean)
  • Ruhan Ruhan (2006)
  • Nayeera
  • Pri (1997)
  • Saira Scientist (Saira, The Scientist)
  • Biggani Sofdor Alir Moha Moha Abiskar (The Great Inventions of Sofdor Ali, the Scientist) (1992)
  • Dekha Alo, Na dekha Rup (1986)
  • Mohakashe Moha Tras
  • Sahnaz O Captain Dablu (Shahnaz And Captain W)
  • Tratuler Jagat (Tratul's World)(2002)
  • Trinitry Rashimala (The Trinitry Sequence) (1995)
  • Tuki O Jhayer (Pray) Dusshahoshik Obhijan (The Brave (Almost) Adventures of Tuki and Jha)
  • Jara Biobot (The Biological Robots) (1993)
  • Onuron Golok (1996)
  • Amra O Crab Nebula (2000)
  • Andhokarer Groho (2008)

[edit] Children's Adventures

  • Amar Bondhu Rashed (Rashed My Friend)
  • Ami Topu (I am Topu)
  • Bachcha Voyonkor Kachcha Voyonkor (Children Are Dangerous)
  • Bokulappu
  • Brishtir Thikana
  • Bubuner Baba (Bubun's Father)
  • Chelemanushi (Childish)
  • Dipu Number Two
  • Dosshi Kojon (Little Pirates)
  • Dushto Cheler Dol (Bad Boys Gang)
  • Hatkata Robin
  • Jarul Chowdhurir Manikjorr
  • Kajoler Dinratri
  • Litu Brittanto (Story of Litu)
  • Nat-Boltu
  • Nitu O Taar Bondhura (Nitu and Her Friends)
  • Raju O Agunalir Voot (Raju and the Ghost of Agunali)
  • Schooler Naam Pothochari (A School named Pothochari)
  • T-Rexer Sondhane (In Search of T-Rex)

[edit] Math & Science

  • Neurone Onuronon (Jointly with Mohammad Kaykobad)(2002)
  • Neurone Onuronon 2 (Jointly with Mohammad Kaykobad)(2003)
  • Gonit Abong Aro Gonit (Jointly with Zakaria Swapan)
  • Bigganer Ekso Mojar Khela (100 Interesting Games of Science)
  • Goniter Moja, Mojar Gonit

[edit] Other Works

  • Pret (The Spirit)
  • Tomader Prosno Amar Uttor
  • Beesh Bochor Pore (As an editor)
  • 2030 Saler Ekdin O Onnano
  • Dusuopner Ditio Prohor (The Second Phase of a Nightmare)
  • Muhabbat Alir Ekdin (A Day in the Life of Muhabbat Ali)
  • Chhayaleen
  • Aktukhani Biggan(february 2007)
  • Akas Bariye Dao
  • Biborno Tushar (Withering Snow)

[edit] Filmography

  • Dipu Number 2

Moreover, many novels and stories are converted into plays and TV serials and even animated movies.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Haider, Mahtab (2006-01-01), “Muhammed Zafar Iqbal:A life in quantum leap”, The New Age, <http://www.newagebd.com/2006/jan/01/newyear06/heroes01.html> 
  2. ^ Shehreen Islam, Kajalie (2006-09-22), “Choking Voices of Freedom: Free thought is fast becoming another casualty of rising religious extremism”, Star Weekend Magazine, The Daily Star (Bangladesh), <http://www.newagebd.com/2006/jan/01/newyear06/heroes01.html>. Retrieved on 2007-10-03 
  3. ^ "Meril-Prothom Alo awards for 2005 given", The Daily Star (Bangladesh), 13 May 2006, pp. 1. Retrieved on [[2007-10-03]]. (English) 

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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