Melbourne's literature loving group, Bangla Sahitya Sansad (BSS), was very fortunate to have Muhammad Zafar Iqbal with his wife Yasmeen Hoque as invitee writer for this year. All in all they only stayed in Melbourne for four days and we made the most of it.
Somehow the smiles on their faces remained at all times, never ceased to shine no matter how sleep-deprived they were. Zafar Iqbal talked tirelessly on any topic we demanded with equal enthusiasm as if a diligent teacher were answering questions of all sorts. Yasmeen was more so as a real entertainer, a story (non-fiction) teller with such charisma that it never felt that this was our first encounter with the couple. In fact, it felt as if we are friends from some ancient time, had just lost touch for a while, who can carry on in an 'adda' where we had left off in some timeless era.
He is a scientist by profession, a computer science educator and as much as he would like to be known as a science academic, his other part, that of a literary being, very humbly displays the arts in him. With humble dignity Zafar Iqbal admits children love him because he writes science fiction for them. He is reluctant to admit that there are reasons for adults to be fond of him.
For most of his writing career Muhammed Zafar Iqbal has focused on science. But to give expression to his discoveries he has taken refuge in the arts, the vast precinct of arts, namely literature. Science needs proof and the arts need imagination. Since he possesses both, the next step of creativity only comes very easily and naturally to him. Added to all that virtues is the great desire that made him today's MZI. He is children's, youngsters', students' and many adults' most beloved writer. There are different reasons why people like to read his books. For some it's the thrill of scientific exploration, for some it could be the power of imagination, for others the fantastic creation of stories, or the realisation of the true meaning of the great Liberation War or for some the simple expression of subtle characters. But no matter what, it is a daunting job to contest the other electronic gadget, the rich entertainment world of the 21st century. That job is done very eloquently in MZI's books that show up among the crowds of fans, wherever he goes, for an apparently priceless autograph. Yet MZI will sign his full longish name with much care for each of the hundreds of fans in one sitting. That is the person separate from the famous writer's entity.
Zafar Iqbal mentioned in his speech that there was nothing grey between truth and untruth, just as there was nothing grey between striving and not striving for a trial of the war criminals. Having experienced the atrocities of 1971 firsthand, there is no place left in any corner of his heart to be soft and with his scientific intuitiveness he first saw the fundamental flaw in the Pakistani flag --- that the star cannot be inside the crescent. The clear message he sends out with zeal --- that he belongs to only one sect that solemnly stands by the scruples of the independence war. One great thing he has ever done is that he has sown the seeds of history into children's hearts. Stories like amar bandhu rashed, rasha, muktijuddher itihash and others are oxygen that will ignite liberation aspirations in future generations. The great war, the sacrifices, the achievements will never be forgotten, nor should be forgotten.  Disseminating this patriotism has never been easy, especially among children. Zafar Iqbal won those little hearts by writing in their language, charmed them with his science stories, enrooting trust in their beliefs, so that they are made aware of the history of this country of ours with passion and with determination to safeguard the motherland in every possible way.
Writing must be an art in order to connect with children. Children can see war in their video games, even take part in the fighting. Usually these things excite them, however temporarily. But competing with that visual caricature in the entertainment world, writing to impress young minds that will have a long lasting impact, indeed form their mindsets in relation to history is a hard task by any measure. But that is the art of Zafar Iqbal's writing. He didn't use or invent the most ridiculous characters in a wizard school and made millions. He used simple facts of science and small events to make up the stories and they are hooked. Thanks to Zafar Iqbal, we didn't lose our children, our young adults for that matter, to those evil electronic giants. He said, 'I have to write for them as they put an embargo on me, never to write for adults', and then he added with the nicest smile, 'otherwise these kids will eat me up raw!' They do have that hold on their beloved writer, they regularly write to him, acknowledging how nice a book was. Even how bad a book was that, 'what did you write, feels like vomiting'. The good writer takes all that criticism rather affectionately, thinking, 'That's how I learn what to write, how to write'.
No matter how big a scientist he is, whenever he talks the audience enjoys every bit of it because of the simplistic nature of his narration. And that is the art of his conversation. He has science in his head but art in his heart. His speech amused a hall full of people for three continuous hours and continued even more with taking photos, autographs, casual talk until we started packing up, folding away the chairs, taking down the decorations. Ever since the program was held on 14 September, everyone I met said something unique about him, but they all agreed on how lucky they were that they could come to the program, hear him talk.
As all good things have to end at one stage, sadly, our very short lived festival ended. They had to go back to bigger and better responsibilities. Rather helplessly, I said, 'It feels so bad that you are going', to which the writer replied, 'I am not going, we will all be in our places'. Phew, that was a relief!

Nahid Khan is an academic and teaches at the University of Melbourne