Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Nov 1, 2025 (BSS)- A book talk by Zia Haider Rahman, a Bangladeshi 
born British novel writer who earned prestigious awards for writing his very 
first novel named 'In The Light of What we Know', was held today on his 
famous book.

The event was held at the Bookworm premises at the Justice Shahbuddin Ahmed 
Park this afternoon.

In a type of converses with Dr Mahruba Mowtushi, Zia Haider mainly narrated 
his journey to writing the book at event over the time.

At the talk the author reflected on his debut novel, which critics described 
as a "novel of ideas." While praised for its intellectual depth, this label 
limited its commercial success. 

Reviewers noted that beneath the philosophical exploration, there is a deeply 
emotional, heartbreaking love story that gave the novel its human core.

The book explores a man's attempt to overcome loneliness and alienation 
through knowledge and learning, only to realize that understanding alone 
cannot bridge the emotional distance between people.

Drawing on the metaphor of the Garden of Eden, the Zia Haider suggested that 
humanity's search for knowledge has never been the way back to wholeness. 

Narrating the journey of writing his novel, Zia Haider Rahman said that 
writing is not therapy but a compulsion. "I write because I must write, not 
to feel better. I love the process," he added. Reflecting on his experience, 
he said, "During the writing process, I suffered from depression and became 
engrossed in philosophical questions about free will and human agency, which 
made me realize that knowledge rarely brings comfort; it simply raises better 
questions."

For him, writing offers two rewards: a clearer understanding of life and the 
ability to create beauty out of pain.

As he said, he especially enjoys writing dialogue, seeing it as the space 
where intellect and emotion meet. His novel unfolds as a conversation between 
two men, exploring how humans struggle to make sense of existence through 
connection. A meticulous planner, he constructs the entire novel in his mind 
before writing, a habit shaped by his background in mathematics.

In the Light of What We Know is the debut novel of Zia Haider Rahman, 
published in 2014 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book won the James Tait 
Black Memorial Prize and received international acclaim. It has been 
translated into several languages, including Czech, Greek, and Arabic.