Chaitali Banerjee Roy, cultural journalist and author of ‘Sadaaqa: Partnership & Cultural Kinship’

Har-Anand Publications (New Delhi, India) announces the release of Sadaaqa: Partnership & Cultural Kinship, by cultural journalist and broadcaster Chaitali Banerjee Roy. Drawing upon the first two seasons of her popular audiovisual series Sadaaqa, the book chronicles the enduring cultural, social, and economic bonds between India and Kuwait through personal narratives that span generations.

Book cover of ‘Sadaaqa: Partnership & Cultural Kinship.’

The book presents inspiring accounts of pioneering Indian families, such as the Jashanmals, Oberois, Lambas, Kohlis, Bhasins, Wadhawans, and Mathews, who built businesses from the ground up and became integral contributors to Kuwait’s economic development. Alongside these stories of Indian entrepreneurs, it also honours distinguished Kuwaitis whose lives are closely intertwined with India. These include Dr. Lubna Al Qadi, the Al Arfaj family of Kuwait, Sheikha Souad Al Sabah, Padma Shri Sheikha Shaikha Al Sabah, Sheikha Halah Al Sabah, Mr Ahmed Al Sarraf, the Shuhaibers, Mubarak Al Rashed and others. Their recollections underscore the unique and affectionate kinship that unites the two countries.

The foreword, written by Sheikha Altaf Al Sabah, noted anthropologist and custodian of Kuwait’s heritage craft, adds a profound contextual layer to the narratives.

Authored by Chaitali B Roy, veteran cultural journalist and broadcaster who has lived and worked in Kuwait for over two decades, Sadaaqa continues her exploration of the region’s cultural stories following her first book, Women of Kuwait: Turning Tides (2016). While Turning Tides challenged stereotypes about Arab women, Sadaaqa seeks to dispel simplistic narratives about Indians in Kuwait and highlights the shared cultural space that both peoples inhabit.

What sets Sadaaqa apart from any previous work is that it weaves together personal stories and family histories, spotlighting both individual and communal experiences. Its contemporary perspective brings today’s lived experiences of cultural kinship to the forefront, an approach less common in existing academic or historical accounts. Unlike earlier studies that primarily cater to scholars, Sadaaqa is written for a wider audience of general readers and those with personal ties to India and Kuwait, making it both accessible and engaging. Importantly, the book also contributes to the oral history of Indo-Kuwaiti relations and helps strengthen the region’s cultural archive for future generations.

Published by Har-Anand Publications, Sadaaqa: Partnership & Cultural Kinship will be officially launched in Kuwait and India.

For more information on the book, please contact the author at [email protected] or call 00965-97118134, or contact Har-Anand Publications (http://www.haranandbooks.com). Email:[email protected].