by Sudhir Suchak
Sudhir Suchak
5/3/2025, paperback
SKU: 9798998595202
At just eighteen years old, Sudhir Suchak made a daring escape from the island of Zanzibar in East Africa. Fleeing a repressive regime, political violence, and the trauma of a genocide that tore apart the fabric of his family; he trusted his father's belief that boarding a ship with the ultimate goal of reaching America, would lead to a better life. Hidden aboard a steamship, escaping with nothing but hope in his heart, he risked everything for a chance at freedom.
His journey from stowaway to survivor unfolded not just across continents, but through dislocation, discovery, and the long and onerous work to start anew in a country he had never seen.
Told with unflinching honesty and in vivid detail; Last Boat to Freedom traces the cost of survival - from the trauma left behind on the island, the perilous journey as a stowaway, brutal violence, and the first bewildering year in America. He learned firsthand what it means to belong in a land that promised freedom but didn't always offer acceptance.
Decades later, he returned to Zanzibar with his family, walking through the streets of his childhood, now transformed by time and memory. What he found was both familiar and foreign, a powerful reminder of what was lost - and what was gained. Last Boat to Freedom is a powerful testament to resilience, perseverance, identity and the enduring power of a single choice.
About the Author:
Sudhir Suchak teaches at the University at Buffalo after a career of over 20 years with an international bank. He lives with his family in Buffalo, NY.