Book Title: Register Me as Kulbhushan
Author: Alka Saraogi
Publisher: Penguin
Number of Pages: 456
ISBN: 0143473026
Date Published: May 30, 2026
Book Review
Books on the India–Pakistan Partition continue to resonate because they capture the deeply personal stories of people whose lives were forever changed by the events of 1947. Beyond the historical facts, these books tell of families torn apart, homes left behind, friendships broken by borders, and the pain of starting over in an unfamiliar land.
They give voice to the fear, loss, hope, and resilience experienced by millions, helping preserve memories that might otherwise fade with time. By focusing on human experiences rather than political events alone, Partition literature creates a powerful emotional connection. It reminds us of the enduring impact of displacement, division, and the search for belonging.
In “Register Me as Kulbhushan,” Alka Saraogi explores the complex aftermath of the 1971 war in Kolkata, delving into themes of identity, displacement, and survival through the life of the protagonist, Kulbhushan. Post-war, with nearly 10 million refugees from East Pakistan, the narrative questions the essence of identity in a world increasingly reliant on documentation.
Kulbhushan, who bears multiple names, strives for recognition and legitimacy while confronting the haunting “button of forgetting,” a metaphor for trauma erasure.
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The novel stands out as a significant addition to the literature on the Partition of India, capturing the historical upheaval from the Partition in 1947 to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. It reflects the political, social, and cultural disintegration in Bengal, particularly how the Partition’s trauma affected refugee lives. Kulbhushan’s journey illustrates the loss of home, identity, and familial bonds, portraying the struggles of those pushed to the margins of history.
The story further emphasises the desperate need for belonging, as Kulbhushan grapples with rejection not only externally, but within his own family after enduring communal strife. His tenure in refugee camps exhibits the brutal realities of displacement while revealing deep-rooted family divisions.
Ultimately, Alka Saraogi offers a heartwarming, realistic story of how bureaucratic barriers shape human identity, poignantly voicing the experiences of millions of disenfranchised refugees whose names and stories risk being lost to history.
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