Kolkata, September 20, 2025 — Renowned lawyer, author, and cultural icon advocate Sumant Batra’s Kafila: A Jhangi Family’s Partition Memoir was launched in Kolkata today. The book offers a powerful, human perspective on one of the largest and most traumatic events in modern history, the Partition of India in 1947.
In Kafila, Sumant Batra chronicles the journey of his ancestors the Dass family from Rodu Sultan, Jhang as they are uprooted from their homeland amidst the chaos of Partition. Blending intimate family stories with the larger political backdrop of the time, the book captures both the harrowing details of displacement and the enduring spirit of resilience that defined the survivors.
“Though this is my family’s story, it is also the story of millions who endured Partition,” says Sumant Batra. “I wanted to honour their memories and resilience while urging today’s generation to provide the closure that history has long denied.”
Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, Editor says “In Kafila, Sumant bridges meticulous historical research with the emotional truth of lived experience, creating a narrative that lingers long after the last page.”
20 September is also 88th birth anniversary of Sumant Batra’s late father. An emotional Batra said, “Kafila is not just a memoir; it is a living document of courage, survival, and hope. It preserves a slice of history that is at risk of fading away,” says Sumant Batra.
About the Author
Sumant Batra is an Indian lawyer with nearly three decades of global experience in insolvency and bankruptcy law. Recognised among the top 30 international insolvency experts by Global Restructuring Review, he has received multiple accolades, including the award for ‘Outstanding Career in Insolvency’. He is the only Asian and youngest president in the history of London-based INSOL International. Beyond law, Sumant is a passionate advocate for Indian culture and literature. He is the founder of the Kumaon Literary Festival and the author of The Indians, Anarkali, and co-author of An Actor’s Actor: The Authorized Biography of Sanjeev Kumar.
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