Vikram Seth speaks at IUB

Photo Caption: Renowned Indian author and poet Vikram Seth delivering a talk at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).

Renowned author and poet Vikram Seth delivered a talk at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on Sunday, 18 November 2012 at its permanent campus at Bashundhara, Dhaka. Prof. Razia S Khan delivered the introductory speech and welcomed everyone to the talk where she introduced the author. Among others, Towhid Samad, Chairman, Board of Trustees, IUB and Prof M Omar Rahman, Vice Chancellor, spoke on the occasion.
They also presented the IUB sash to the honourable speaker and announced him as the IUB's Scholar in Residence for the year 2012.
In his lecture, Vikram Seth mentioned his appreciation of the physical geography of Bangladesh and noted that he had been overwhelmed by the hospitality of the people here. He also mentioned that secularism was the essence of humanity. Later he read from his writings and answered questions from the audience. The noted author said that he did not have any feeling of being uprooted. Inspiration had been a moving force in his writings.
Prof Niaz Zaman delivered the formal vote of thanks. The programme was conducted by Sayyeda Tun Noor Sameera, a senior at the university.
It was a good audience, including participating writers of the Hay Festival, members of the faculty and students of IUB, who enjoyed the talk of the author.