Dramatic reunion with family after 8 years

By Rasheed Kappan

BANGALORE, MARCH 18. For eight long years, 16-year-old Muniraj toiled hard, working all day without pay. Bonded to labour, his young mind and body ached for a reunion with his beloved family. That elusive dream finally turned a reality for Muniraj last week, as the City-based Bosco redirected his flight from virtual slavery to a sweet journey homewards.

Running away from his Hebbal home, Muniraj once dreamt of quick money. Wandering, he ended up with Annaji Gowda, an agriculturist at Chennarayapatna in Hassan District. The young Muniraj fell for the promised annual pay of Rs. 4,500. ``But my employer never gave me that money. I wanted to go home, but he would not let me do so. I ended up working hard at the fields from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday,'' he narrated his story to The Hindu.

Ten days ago, Muniraj prepared his getaway plan. His empty pocket filled with a Rs. 100 note gifted by his neighbour, Ms. Jayalakshmamma, he boarded a bus to Bangalore. He wanted to go back home, but not with his hands empty. So like most runaway children, he ended up as a hotel worker. The new reality struck him numb.

Eight days of hotel work in Gandhinagar made him sick, and his limbs went sore. ``They did not pay me either,'' he said. Tired, Muniraj walked out to join the growing populace of aimless streetchildren. But luckily for him, a Bosco team stationed at the Majestic bus stop spotted him. ``We convinced him that our team would take him home,'' recalled Fr. T.C.George from the Bosco Yuvodaya. The homeward journey brought back memories of his two young brothers and a sister, who was too small even to talk. Reaching Hebbal, Muniraj realised that the family shifted from there four years ago.

Tracking down their new home in Kamakshipalya, his two-year-old longing for his loved ones returned. ``Strangely, for the first six years of his labourer's life, Muniraj never thought about his parents. But in the past two years, the desire to meet them was immense. It was then he started asking his employer for money to go home,'' said Fr. George. The reunion was dramatic.

Hearing Muniraj's voice from a distance, his old aunt cried. A closer look, noting that scar on his forehead, she knew her nephew was finally home. But a bigger surprise awaited Muniraj - his family had grown. He had another brother.

The joy of his father, Mr. Muniyappa, knew no bounds. ``For two years, we searched everywhere, spent a lot of time and money. We would go to distant places and keep searching for 15 days and more at one stretch. Then we resigned to the fate,'' he told The Hindu. His wife, Ms. Ningamma, could not believe her eyes. Muniraj's home was suddenly alive. He now wants his money back from his employer.

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