The Department of English and Humanities (DEH) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organised a literary conversation with Swedish-Bangladeshi writer, translator and educator Dilruba Z Ara, focusing on women’s experiences, cultural identity and creative expression.

Titled “Women, Creative Practices and Bangladesh: A Conversation with Dilruba Z Ara”, the session was held on Tuesday (3 November). Nadia Rahman, assistant professor of the Department of English and Humanities, moderated the discussion.

During the conversation, Ara reflected on her literary journey, her connection with Bangladesh and the challenges of pursuing a career in creative writing.

Growing up in a family closely connected to literature, Ara said storytelling had been an integral part of her life from an early age. Her father, renowned Bangladeshi writer Shahed Ali, and her mother, a writer and former professor of Bengali language and literature, played significant roles in nurturing her interest in literature.

Having lived in Sweden for nearly four decades, Ara discussed how her connection with Bangladesh continues to shape her writing. She said her experiences abroad had offered her a distinct perspective on her homeland, its people and social realities.

The discussion also explored her work as a translator, particularly her experience of translating Swedish literature into Bengali. Through her engagement with both languages, she has sought to build a literary connection between Bangladesh and Sweden.

Reflecting on her literary works, Ara discussed her novels “A List of Offences” and “Blame”, as well as her short-story collection “Detached Belonging”.

Her debut novel, “A List of Offences”, follows Daria, a village girl whose experiences reveal the social conventions, gender expectations and taboos affecting women’s lives. The discussion explored how family relationships, social restrictions and women’s autonomy feature in her fiction.

The moderator also read an excerpt from one of Ara’s short stories, allowing attendees to engage with her writing. Another part of the conversation focused on a story inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic and how contemporary experiences can become material for creative writing.

Addressing the challenges of publishing English-language creative writing in Bangladesh, Ara shared an experience from the publication of “A List of Offences”. She recalled facing resistance from a prospective publisher over her portrayal of a character as a good Muslim man.

Unwilling to compromise her creative vision, she remained committed to the original characterisation. The experience highlighted the challenges writers face in balancing creative freedom with publishers’ expectations and social sensitivities.

When asked about pursuing a career in writing, Ara stressed the importance of patience, perseverance and hard work. She also acknowledged the difficulties of building a sustainable career as a writer and encouraged aspiring writers to remain practical while developing their creative abilities.

The conversation also touched on the future of literature and the growing influence of technology. Advising students on the use of artificial intelligence, Ara said, “Make AI your slave. Don’t become its slave.”

She emphasised the importance of independent thinking, originality and human creativity while engaging with emerging technologies.

The session concluded with reflections on the role of writers, the importance of women’s voices in literature and the relationship between personal experiences and creative expression.