After a gap of 14 years, Raja finally returned to his roots. His mother, Mani, tearfully embraced her son she had lost when he was just 6 years old. The entire village was moved by the profound display of love. B. Raja, a native of Jharkhand, has finally come back to the loving shelter of his home—a place that had almost faded into his childhood memories.

On Saturday, Raja departed to his hometown accompanied by Sonua Police Station SI Indradior Rajakin and Women and Child Development employee Manoj Kumar. On Tuesday, they arrived at the Chaibasa Railway Station in the Singhbhum district.

From the station, they headed to the Sonua Police Station, located 20 km away. It wasn't just his mother and four sisters waiting for him, the entire village turned out to receive him, as Raja’s comeback felt like a miracle. The villagers set aside all their work to celebrate his return. Accompanied by percussions, they escorted Raja to his house, 3 kilometers from the station. Those unable to reach the police station lined the roadsides, joining the procession and sharing the emotional reunion between the mother and children.

Language barrier

On February 18, Raja saw his mother and sisters through a relative's mobile phone. However, when he finally met them in person, he faced a unique challenge; he was no longer familiar with his native language. Having left home at such a young age, the local Odia dialect had become foreign to him. He retains a basic knowledge of Hindi and is currently using it to communicate with his family.

The Path Back

Raja originally went missing from Howrah, West Bengal, where his parents, Bodram and Mani, worked as labourers at a brick kiln.

The major turning point in his life occurred last month. After staying at Government Child Care Homes in Kochi and Thrissur, he was transferred to the Aftercare Home in Thalassery, which eventually led to his family being traced.

A Bright Future

Raja is not just a survivor; he is an achiever. A junior player of Kerala Blasters, he received the 'Ujjwala Balyam' Award in 2022 for his excellence in football. While he plans to spend some time with his family now, Raja intends to return to Thalassery soon to continue his studies and football coaching.