Bhubaneswar: Odisha saw poignant reunions as two men, who left home nearly two decades ago, returned to their families, ending years of uncertainty and grief.
In the first case, Purusottam Gauda from Suidihi Sonaparbat village in Lathikata block of Sundargarh district stepped off a train at Rourkela railway station to an emotional welcome filled with music, prayers, and tears. The now-adult man had disappeared at age 13 in 2008 while in Class 8, lured away by a truck driver with promises of driving lessons. Instead, he was allegedly trafficked and sold to a businessman in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, where he endured years of forced labour and bonded captivity without pay. His repeated requests to return home were ignored until he finally managed to contact his mother in January this year.
Local authorities, including Raghunathpali MLA Durga Charan Tanti, and DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Rai, coordinated with police to secure his rescue. His 80-
year-old mother, Ulasi Gauda, embraced him in a tearful moment that symbolised the end of her prolonged anguish.
In a separate but equally moving story from Sonepur district, Karunakar from Sahani Dihi village under Ulunda block reunited with his relatives after 18 years. He had left home following a heated argument with his elder brother. Despite police reports and searches, he remained untraceable.
Karunakar revealed that he had been living quietly and anonymously at an ashram at Davanagere in Karnataka, concealing his identity from the world. Overwhelmed by memories of his family, he recently decided to return. Assisted by Ulunda police, he was safely brought back, where villagers greeted him by washing his feet, offering flowers, and applying sandalwood paste. The homecoming brought waves of joy and relief to his surviving family and the community. Karunakar, however, broke down when informed about the tragic deaths of his father Yugindra and elder brother Subhakar, during the long wait.
Both stories highlight different facets of human endurance and vulnerability. Purushottam’s ordeal underscores the dangers of child trafficking and bonded labour while Karunakar’s disappearance reflects the emotional scars of family disputes. Yet, in both cases, the reunions stand as powerful reminders of hope, patience and the strength of family bonds.