- Electoral roll revision sparks protests nationwide but brings an emotional reunion in Rajasthan.
- Missing since 1980, Uday Singh is traced through SIR verification after 45 years.
- Memory loss from an accident had left him unable to recall his home or family.
- Village celebrates his return with a traditional Bindori procession.
GG News Bureau
Bhilwara, 29th Nov: Amid growing protests and political criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across India, a remarkable story from Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district has brought an unexpected emotional turn to the national debate. In Suraj village of Asind taluka, the voter list verification process helped reunite a mother with her son—missing for 45 years.
Uday Singh, who disappeared from his home in 1980, was traced living nearly 1,300 kilometres away in Chhattisgarh. His family had searched for him for decades without success. Unknown to them, Uday had suffered a serious head injury in a road accident during his time away, which erased his memory and left him unable to remember his origins.
During the SIR campaign, Uday grew curious about voter documents. He recalled only fragments—his village name and caste—which prompted him to reach a government school in Suraj village on Wednesday to inquire about voter forms. A teacher noticed inconsistencies and alerted the family.
Recognising him after so many years was not easy. But as Uday recounted childhood stories and family memories, hope grew. The final confirmation came when his mother, Chuni Devi Rawat, identified old injury marks on his forehead and chest. Overwhelmed, she broke down, embracing the son she believed she had lost forever.
What followed was a village-wide celebration. The 150-house settlement erupted in joy, welcoming Uday like a groom. A traditional Bindori procession was organised—complete with drums, DJ music, and a mare—symbolising his long-awaited return. Villagers and distant relatives gathered in large numbers to meet him, turning the reunion into a moment of collective happiness.
As political parties continue to contest the SIR process, the Bhilwara reunion stands out as a rare story of hope emerging from an otherwise contentious national exercise.
