From Sarki to Sharma: How Suffering Became My Meaning is a powerful work of narrative nonfiction inspired by the true history of the Bhutanese Lhotshampa exile and the wider Bhutanese refugee crisis.
The book follows the reconstructed journey of Hari Sarki, a man born in the southern hills of Bhutan, whose life is torn apart when political decree, ethnic exclusion, and forced displacement push his community into exile. From the loss of home and identity to years spent in a refugee camp in Nepal, Hari's story becomes one of survival, memory, dignity, and transformation.
At the heart of the book is Hari's decision to change his name from Sarki to Sharma, an act that represents far more than a personal choice. It becomes a symbol of reclaiming identity, resisting inherited limitations, and choosing meaning in the face of suffering. Drawing emotional and philosophical inspiration from Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, this book explores how human beings can endure unimaginable loss while still preserving the freedom to decide who they become.
Blending history, reconstructed scenes, emotional truth, and philosophical reflection, From Sarki to Sharma is a moving story of exile, resilience, caste, refugee survival, and the search for belonging.
