GUWAHATI: It is quite often seen in films. It has come true for Gudiya- who went missing at the age of six. Now after 17 years she gets back her parents.
Thanks to the untiring effort of a lady in Guwahati, who ran from pillar to post to help Gudiya find her missing parents.
Gudiya Rai — a 23-year-lady now, went missing at the age of six. It was in 1996 when Gudiya accompanied by her maternal uncle was on a travel from Patna to Guwahati to her grandfather’s place. In between their journey, Gudiya asked her uncle to get her something to eat.
Accordingly, her uncle got down at Barauni railway station and before he could reach the compartment, the train had left. Later, Gudiya reached Guwahati and the Railway police handed over the missing child to a Children home in Jalukbari, Guwahati.
Helpless Gudiya then knew nothing about her parents, where they stayed or which place her father works. She only knew that her father’s name is Satan Rai, who works in a biscuit factory and they stay in Patna. Few years later, Gudiya was shifted to Nagaon Children’s Home and Observation Centre.
Gudiya grew up there and one fine day she meets Neelakshi Sarma who was transferred to the Child home as a Counsellor in 2007. Soon Gudiya got close to Neelakshi and shared all her woes. “I then took this up as a challenge and kept on searching for all avenues,” said Neelakshi, who is working as MIS Cell Co-ordinator, Assam State Child Protection Society.
“Last month me and my husband went to Patna. We met different people, police and organisation members, only to return back frustrated,” she said adding “but I did not give up.”
“I was browsing the internet when I got the contact number of a biscuit factory in Patna named Nalanda Biscuit Factory. When I called in the number, things started rolling and the Manager of the biscuit factory one Sunil Agarwal was extremely supportive. From a list of employee details he could find Gudiya’s father,” Neelakshi said.
Excited Neelakshi also spoke to Gudiya’s father and she let Gudiya put a word. According to Neelakshi this is the ‘happiest moment of her life’.
The tireless effort of Neelakshi finally bore fruit. Gudiya brought up in an Assamese environment now could not speak any other language other than Assamese. She, however said that she is eagerly looking ahead to meet her parents.
Back home Gudiya has five brothers and she is lone sister. Her parents stay close to Nalanda Biscuit factory in Phulbari Sharif area of Patna.
Neelakshi, who was supported by her husband Raju Singh in her endevour, plans to travel to Patna along with Gudiya sometime in the month of August to hand her over to her parents. (UB Photos)