Acclaimed Hindi novelist Alka Saraogi’s novel Register Me as Kulbhushan has been released in English translation by John Vater, bringing to readers a sweeping narrative of displacement, memory and the search for belonging in the aftermath of Partition.

The novel follows the journey of its protagonist, a dark, lanky man known by several names—Bhushan Chacha, Kulbhushan Jain and Gopal Chandra Das—as he wanders through the streets of Kolkata in search of his identity. Haunted by the trauma of Partition, he relies on a peculiar coping mechanism taught to him by his childhood friend Shyama Dhobi: the “button of forgetting,” a mantra that allows him to erase painful memories and navigate an often hostile world.

Set against the backdrop of post-Partition Bengal, the story explores the emotional toll of displacement and the struggle to reconcile fragmented identities. As the protagonist drifts through memories and encounters, the novel examines how forgetting can become both a survival strategy and a burden.

Parallel to his story runs the remarkable life of Shyama Dhobi. Introduced as a child mysteriously delivered to his parents by a wandering fakir, Shyama rises through determination and resourcefulness from washerman to rickshaw-puller and eventually trusted associate of Bengali aristocrats who own cotton mills. His life unfolds amid escalating communal tensions, political upheaval and the violence that preceded the Bangladesh Liberation War.

As the conflict deepens and injustice mounts, Shyama is drawn into the struggle for Bangladesh’s independence, seeking purpose and justice in a turbulent era.

Combining humour, philosophical reflection and historical insight, Register Me as Kulbhushan presents an expansive portrait of lives shaped by migration, loss and resilience. Through its richly drawn characters and layered narrative, the novel explores enduring questions of identity, memory and the human desire to find a place to call home.

Alka Saraogi is widely regarded as one of the leading voices in contemporary Hindi literature. Known for her nuanced portrayals of history, migration and community life, her works have received critical acclaim and numerous literary honours. The English translation by John Vater introduces this significant work to a broader readership.

Described as a modern epic of exile and belonging, Register Me as Kulbhushan offers a poignant reflection on the long shadows cast by Partition and the enduring quest for selfhood in a rapidly changing world.