In this interview series, we spoke with author: Ishtiak Hossain Chowdhury. Each page of a book tells a story of a unique world, opening windows in our minds. For the younger generation, reading is food for the soul, helping their creativity flourish. Ishtiak Hossain Chowdhury shared many important thoughts on reading, which are truly valuable for us. Let’s learn more about him.
First off, can you tell us about yourself?
I was born in Dhaka. We are three brothers. My father worked in government service, so our first address was the quarters of the AGB colony in Motijheel. After my father passed away in 1995, our family moved to Shahjahanpur. Since then, I’ve lived in areas like Basabo, Khilgaon, and Shantinagar. I completed my SSC at Motijheel Ideal School and College, my Higher Secondary at Dhaka College, and earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics from the University of Dhaka. Currently, I’m working as an Assistant Manager at the state-owned Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited, which operates the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. While employed, I completed training in radiation safety. These days, I stay busy with science writing and my work at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
Please tell us about your journey in science writing. What inspired you to write about science in Bengali?
It was probably December 2020. There was a pause in the Covid outbreak, and life was starting to return to normal. At that time, I happened to get my hands on a book titled ‘Quantum Physics’ by Abdul Gaffar Rony. Mesmerized, I finished the whole book. As a physics student, I already had some familiarity with quantum physics. But the author’s fluid writing, easy presentation, and the skill to maintain continuity left a strong impression on me. During our school days, there was a real shortage of such science books.
Due to academic studies and job preparation, I had drifted away from reading science books after my HSC. However, when I returned in 2020, I noticed something extraordinary. A quiet revolution had taken place in this sector. Through several amazing authors, a significant number of high-quality, original, and translated science books had reached Bengali readers. Among those outstanding writers, Abdul Gaffar Rony, Abul Bashar, Uchchhash Tausif, Chamak Hasan, my friend Ratul Khan, Hasan Tarek Chowdhury, and Naeem Hossain Faruki especially deserve mention. That’s where my initial desire to write about science began. Later, encouraged by my friend Arafat Saklayen, I officially picked up the pen. After eight months of hard work, I finished the manuscript for my first book, ‘Ektukhani Jyotirbiggan’ (A Bit of Astronomy). During that time, I got introduced to one of the country’s leading monthly science magazines, Biggan Chinta, and the popular science website ‘Biggan Blog.’ As a result, my writing continued throughout the year rather than just centering around book fairs.
Can you share any experiences or awards you have received as a science writer?
I am quite a newcomer in the literary world. I still have a long way to go before I’m worthy of recognition or awards. However, there are two experiences from my writing journey that strongly impacted me. The first was on 30 November 2021. None of my books had been published yet. That day, an article titled “Electricity from Uranium” appeared in the online edition of Biggan Chinta. That was my very first piece published on any platform. It was a truly wonderful moment. The second memorable event came in January 2022. That month, two of my articles— “Olbers’ Paradox and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation” and “An Introduction to Laser Physics”—were published on Biggan Blog. For these, I was declared Biggan Blog’s ‘Author of the Month’ for January. The memory of those events still delights me.
Which of your books have been published?
So far, I have published four books.
From Annesha Publications: ‘Ektukhani Jyotirbiggan’ and ‘Road to Drive a Nuclear Reactor’ (co-authored with Soleman Sajib);
From Adarsha Publications: ‘Mojar Podartho Biggan’;
From Prothoma Publications: ‘Exoplanet: In Search of Extraterrestrial Worlds.’
You’ll find all the information in my Rokomari author profile:
https://www.rokomari.com/book/author/84253/ishtiak-hossen-chowdhury
What advice would you give to aspiring science writers in Bengali?
Before beginning to write, you must develop a habit of reading. If you read books by writers from both home and abroad (fiction and non-fiction), it becomes much easier to grasp the main principles of fluent writing.
Your email: [email protected]
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IshtiakWriter
On behalf of Biggani.org, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Ishtiak Hossain Chowdhury. This interview was truly an enjoyable experience for us. He serves as a role model for young researchers, who can follow his path to unveil new horizons in their own research.
Interview with Ishtiak Hossen Chowdhury
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born in Dhaka, and I have two brothers. My father worked in government service, so our first home was in the AGB Colony quarters in Motijheel. After my father passed away in 1995, our family moved to Shahjahanpur, and since then, we’ve lived in areas like Basabo, Khilgaon, and Shantinagar. I completed my SSC at Motijheel Ideal School and College, my higher secondary at Dhaka College, and then my bachelor’s and master’s in Physics from the University of Dhaka. Currently, I’m working as an Assistant Manager at the state-owned Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited, which operates the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. While working, I also completed training in radiation safety. These days, my time is divided between writing on science topics and my responsibilities at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
Tell us about your journey in science writing. What inspired you to write about science in Bengali?
It was around December 2020. At that time, there was a lull in COVID-19 transmission, and life was slowly returning to normal. During that period, I happened to pick up a book called Quantum Physics by Abdul Gaffar Rony. I was captivated and read the entire book like I was under a spell. Though I already had some knowledge of quantum physics from my studies in physics, the author’s lucid language, clear presentation, and ability to maintain coherence throughout left a deep impression on me. Growing up, we had a scarcity of such science books.
After my HSC, I drifted away from reading science books due to academic studies and job preparation. But in 2020, I noticed something remarkable: a quiet revolution had occurred in this field. Thanks to several brilliant authors, many high-quality original and translated science books in Bengali had reached readers. Among these exceptional writers, I would especially mention Abdul Gaffar Rony, Abul Bashar, Uchchhash Tausif, Chamak Hasan, Ratul Khan, Hasan Tarek Chowdhury, and Naeem Hossain Faruki. Inspired by them, I first developed an urge to write about science. Later, with encouragement from my friend Arafat Saklayen, I officially picked up the pen. After eight months of hard work, I finished the manuscript of my first book, Ektukhani Jyotirbiggan (A Bit of Astronomy). During this time, I also connected with the prominent science magazine Biggan Chinta and the popular science website Biggan Blog, allowing me to continue writing throughout the year rather than only for book fairs.
Can you share some experiences or recognitions you’ve received as a science writer?
I am still very new to the world of writing, and I have a long way to go before I’m worthy of honors or awards. However, there are two experiences that left a significant mark on me. The first was on November 30, 2021, when my first article, titled “Electricity from Uranium,” was published in the online edition of Biggan Chinta. It was my first piece on any platform, and it was a moment of great joy. The second memorable experience came in January 2022 when two of my articles, “Olbers’ Paradox and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation” and “Introduction to Laser Physics,” were published on Biggan Blog. I was named Biggan Blog‘s “Author of the Month” for January for these articles. Thinking back to this still brings me immense happiness.
What books have you published so far?
To date, I have published four books:
- Ektukhani Jyotirbiggan (A Bit of Astronomy) and Road to Drive a Nuclear Reactor (co-authored with Soleman Sajib), published by Annesha Publications.
- Mojar Podartho Biggan (Fun Physics), published by Adarsha Publications.
- Exoplanet: In Search of Extraterrestrial Worlds, published by Prothoma Publications.
You can find all my information together on my Rokomari author profile: Rokomari
What advice would you give to aspiring science writers in Bengali?
Before starting to write, develop a habit of reading. Reading books by various authors from both home and abroad (both fiction and non-fiction) helps immensely in mastering the basics of fluent writing.
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Page: Ishtiak Hossain Chowdhury
On behalf of Biggani.org, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Ishtiak Hossain Chowdhury. This interview was a delightful experience for us, and he stands as an exemplary figure for young researchers who can follow in his footsteps and explore new horizons in their own research.
Leave a comment