Modi reunites Nepalese youth with family

It seemed like a scene straight from a Bollywood movie script, but this time it was for real as a long lost son reunites with his family members in Nepal.

And to witness the emotional reunion of 26-year-old Jeet Bahadur with his family after about 16 years was none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi who played a key role in this happy story.

Bahadur lost his way in India and Modi found him in Ahmedabad. Since then Modi played the role of a guardian to him, looking after him and ensuring his education and well-being. He also made the special effort of ensuring that Bahadur’s family is located in Nepal and he is reunited with them.

Soon after arriving here for a two-day visit, Modi handed over Bahadur to his mother Khagisara and brother Dasharath Sarumagar and younger sister. Dasharath’s wife and children were also present at the emotional reunion.

“How happy are you now? You should be happy after seeing your lost son after so many years,” Modi told Bahadur’s mother during the reunion. The grateful mother expressed thanks to Modi for looking after her son and educating him like his “dharma putra”.

The poor family, which lives in a slum colony of Nawaalparas district of Nepal, had concluded that Jeet Bahadur had disappeared forever after Dasharath failed to locate him about 16 years ago.

“He (Modi) looked after me like his younger brother ever since I came in contact with him at the age of about 8-10 years. I don’t think even my mother would have done so much for me,” said Jeet Bahadur.

“It is my good luck that I lived with a VIP but I never felt that I was living with a VIP,” said Jeet, who was a huge attraction here.

The second year student of BBA plans to continue his studies in India despite his family being located after so long. He cannot speak his mother tongue Nepali although he understands it. He is fluent in Hindi.