Man Reunited With Family After Three Decades

Myagdi. Karna Bahadur Khatri of Takam, Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-7, Myagdi, has been reunited with his family after three decades.

Through social media and mobile phones, 60-year-old Karna Bahadur came to Takam searching for his ancestral home, brothers, and relatives. "My father, Matilal Khatri, who went to Shillong, India, in search of work, got married there, and my mother passed away 11 days after I was born," Karna Bahadur said, "After my father returned home, my maternal grandfather and mother raised me in my maternal uncle's home in Siari Rural Municipality-6, Rupandehi."

Thirty years ago, after being brought to the district headquarters Beni and given citizenship in his father's name by his brothers and relatives, Karna Bahadur returned to his maternal uncle's home and had been out of contact with anyone, so his family and relatives had given up hope. Karna Bahadur's brother (his aunt's son) Bhumiraj KC said that everyone was overjoyed and surprised when his brother came searching for his ancestral home with his wife to attend the ancestral worship ceremony in Takam a few days ago.

"We had given up hope as Karna Bahadur dai's whereabouts were unknown after he went to his maternal uncle's home after getting his citizenship," he said, "We are all happy that he has come to his ancestral home searching for his birthplace." Karna Bahadur, who was born with a visual impairment in his right eye, said that he lost sight in both eyes because the injury to his left eye 20 years ago was not treated in time.

While participating in a basket weaving training at the Blind Association office in Rupandehi, Karna Bahadur met Dilmaya Chaudhary, who was also visually impaired and working there. They got married 10 years ago. 36-year-old Dilmaya is visually impaired from birth. Dilmaya, who has completed a Bachelor's degree in Education, said that she identified her husband Karna Bahadur's birthplace address through social media and websites and came into contact.

They are earning a livelihood by marketing goods in Siari, Rupandehi, with the support of Dilmaya's maternal relatives and Karna Bahadur's maternal relatives. Their seven-year-old son has been arranged to study in a hostel in Lalitpur with the coordination of the Blind Association.

They are managing their household expenses with the social security allowance provided by the government and the wages earned from marketing the shop.

Karna Bahadur, who wishes to live in the place where his relatives and brothers are, does not have any land or property in Takam. Dilmaya, who has the educational qualification and teaching license to teach, said she is looking for a job.

Karna Bahadur's deceased brother's son, Balkrishna Khatri, lives in Takam. Bhumiraj said that his brother born to another mother is also missing. "We, the relatives, are trying to arrange a plot of land and build a house for Karna Bahadur dai and his wife, who have come searching for their relatives, in Takam," he said, "We are expecting cooperation from the ward office, rural municipality, relevant government bodies, and donors for the construction of their house as they are landless."