The intellectual landscape loses a truly rare luminary when a mind comfortably navigates both the exacting rigor of advanced mathematics and the fluid, evocative realm of humanistic literature. Professor Dr Mizan Rahman, who was born on 16 September 1932 in Dhaka and passed away on 5 January 2015 in Ottawa, Canada, exemplified this extraordinary synthesis. A distinguished Bangladeshi-Canadian mathematician, prolific writer, and ardent champion of rationalism, Rahman spent his lifetime demonstrating that the pursuit of truth requires both analytical precision and deep empathetic reflection.
Rahman’s academic journey began in Dhaka, where he earned a BSc in Mathematics and Physics in 1953, followed by an MSc in Applied Mathematics in 1954 from the University of Dhaka. His intellectual promise soon took him to the University of Cambridge, where he completed a BA in 1958 and an MA in 1963. After serving as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Dhaka between 1958 and 1962, he moved to Canada to join the University of New Brunswick, obtaining his PhD in 1965 with groundbreaking research on plasma kinetic theory utilizing singular integral equation methods.
His subsequent appointment at Carleton University in Ottawa marked the beginning of a illustrious academic career. Rising to the rank of full Professor, Rahman specialized in hyper-geometric series, special functions, and orthogonal polynomials. His definitive co-authored treatise with George Gasper, Basic Hypergeometric Series, published by Cambridge University Press in 1990 (with an expanded second edition in 2004), remains a cornerstone text for researchers worldwide. With over a hundred research papers published in prestigious international journals, his contributions to $q$-series solidified his reputation as a formidable figure in theoretical mathematics. Upon his retirement in 1998, Carleton University bestowed upon him the honorific title of Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus.
Yet, numbers alone could not encapsulate Rahman’s expansive spirit. Parallel to his mathematical career was a rich literary life dedicated to the Bengali language. Authoring ten acclaimed books, including Tirtha Amar Gram, Lal Nodi, Album, Proshongo Nari, and Bhabnar Atmokothon, he delved into memoirs, societal critiques, philosophy, and rationalist discourse. He actively engaged in humanist forums, advocating skepticism, free thought, and scientific literacy.
Recognized with numerous accolades, including Carleton’s Scholarly Achievement Awards, the 1996 Award of Excellence from Bangladesh Publications, and honors from the Banga Sammelan in 2002, Rahman remained a Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. In a final act of devotion to human welfare and scientific progress, he donated his body to medical science upon his death at age 82. Professor Mizan Rahman leaves behind a legacy showing that reason and passion are not opposing forces, but complementary elements of a profound life.
