After spending 36 years in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, Gajanand Sharma, a labourer from Jaipur’s Samod area, returned home to a tumultuous welcome on Tuesday night, bringing solace to his wife, sons and grandchildren who had lost hope of finding him alive.
Mr. Sharma, 68, had crossed the Wagah border on Monday after being released by Pakistan. He was among the 29 prisoners released by the neighbouring country as a goodwill gesture ahead of its Independence Day, following sustained efforts by a group of Indian politicians.
Faded memories
Mr. Sharma’s family members and neighbours burst firecrackers and garlanded the frail man, as he alighted from an SUV, looked around in daze and tried to identify the people.
“This is all so bright... I am confused. Take me home,” a bewildered Mr. Sharma murmured incoherently, as the accompanying people gave him support to walk into the narrow alley at Fateh Ram Ka Tiba in Brahampuri area of the Walled City here. Asked how he landed in Pakistan after he went missing in 1982, all he could say was: “It was probably a mistake.”
Mr. Sharma was brought to Jaipur via Hanumangarh by road. He was first taken to the house of Jaipur MP Ramchanra Bohra who had taken up his case with the Ministry of External Affairs and pushed for his early release.
In an atmosphere of jubilation, Mr. Sharma’s wife Makhni Devi (65) touched his feet and garlanded him. Ms. Devi, who struggled and took up odd jobs to raise her two sons, said she had a belief during the last three decades that she was not a widow.
The family was informed by the police on May 4 this year that Mr. Sharma was in Pakistan. The Superintendent of Police (Jaipur Rural) had received documents for verification of his nationality. The documents confirmed Mr. Sharma’s presence in the Lahore jail. The police and intelligence agencies traced his family, which had shifted from Samod’s Maharkalan village to Brahampuri here, and informed them about the official communication for confirming his citizenship.
New generation
As Mr. Sharma reunited with his family, his daughter-in-law Santosh said she would introduce him to each of his grandchildren, whom he had never seen. “When he left his sons were 12 and 13 years old. Since then, a new generation has been born,” she said. Granddaughter Muskan said all the children would take care of him and help him regain his health.
A huge crowd of youth, mostly members of the Navdurga Yuva Mandal, raised slogans in support of the BJP, as Mr. Bohra, Hawa Mahal constituency MLA Surendra Pareek and local Municipal Councillor Sneh Lata Pareek accompanied Mr. Sharma. Mr. Bohra said Mr. Sharma was sentenced to two months in prison, but he languished in the Pakistani jail for a long period because he did not have consular access.
Mr. Sharma’s son Mukesh, an employee in the State government's Medical and Health Department, said he would try his best to find out from his father, who now seemed to have weak memory, how he had disappeared and crossed the India-Pakistan border. Mr. Sharma is not able to walk properly and his physical and mental condition is not good.
