New Delhi: A striking incident has recently shaken the quiet village of Kharauli in Uttar Pradesh‘s Amethi district, as an 11-year-old boy who vanished from his home 22 years ago has made a mysterious return. The scene of his arrival, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, depicts an emotional reunion between the long-lost son, now an ascetic, and his mother.
In the heart-wrenching footage, the ascetic, clad in traditional attire, is shown playing the sarangi, a traditional musical instrument, and singing poignant melodies while seeking alms from his mother. His songs, deeply rooted in folklore, echo the tales of King Bharthari, a prominent figure in local legends who similarly abandoned wealth to pursue a life of asceticism.
The reunion is fraught with tears as the mother is visibly overwhelmed by emotions. This narrative bears resemblance to the historic Bhawal Case of 1920, where a wandering ascetic claimed to be the reincarnation of a deceased individual, sparking a protracted legal dispute.
The backstory reveals that the ascetic is none other than Pinku, the son of Ratipal Singh, who vanished from their Delhi home in 2002 following a disagreement with his father. Triggered by a familial dispute over a game of marbles, Pinku embarked on a journey that kept him estranged from his family for two decades.
Last week, the villagers of Amethi’s Kharauli were astonished by Pinku’s return to his native land. Promptly notified, his parents made the journey from Delhi, identifying Pinku through a distinctive scar on his body. However, the reunion proved fleeting, as Pinku, adhering to the customs of his religious sect, accepted alms from his mother and departed, despite the heartfelt pleas of his family and the local community.
Adding a layer of complexity to the situation, Pinku’s father alleges that the religious sect demands a hefty sum of ₹ 11 lakh for his son’s release, a sum he vehemently maintains he cannot afford.
Pinku himself clarified that his return was not motivated by familial ties but rather by a religious rite. Within his tradition, aspiring monks undergo a ritualistic transition into monastic life, symbolized by receiving alms from their mother.
Thus, the unexpected return of Pinku, now an ascetic, has left the village in a state of bewilderment, prompting contemplation on the intricacies of family ties and religious devotion.
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