The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lacklustre Holi for them

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 04, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lacklustre Holi for them

Marri Ramu

The Uttar Pradesh migrant family is yet to find their baby boy who was kidnapped three weeks ago

SAD PLIGHT: Ramesh Singh's family with their kidnapped son's picture at their residence in Jubilee Hills on Saturday. -Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Traditionally, Holi had always been special for painter Ramesh Singh's family hailing from Uttar Pradesh. This year too, Singh and his wife Sandhya had looked forward to celebrating the festival of colours with their children.

But, an unidentified woman took colour away from their lives by kidnapping their 18-month-old son Chandu Singh. It had been more than three weeks since the child was abducted. With news of their child's return still eluding them, they kept off the festival they always loved to celebrate.

Searches for his son turned Singh into a psychological wreck. He has no other option but to work daily to keep the wolf away. Shocked over the abduction, he had stopped working.

All that Singh earns is Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 a day. For a man with such a meagre income, no work meant death knell. "But I have no other go. I convinced my employer that I would work day and night once my son returns and would clear all the rental dues," said the painter struggling hard to control tears.

Moral support

Three of his brothers -one living in UP- came down to city and joined him in the search.

They are also equally poor but are providing him the much-needed moral support. The brothers are contacting their villagers living in city and are collecting loans of Rs. 100 and Rs. 200

So poor is Singh that he could not even make copies of his son's photograph to distribute among the public.

He is carrying a colour xerox copy of the photograph given by police. Relentlessly, the poor painter is going around all the surrounding colonies from morning to evening on foot.

Walking for kilometres together daily affected his lean figure. Neglecting food only deteriorated his condition.

"What pains me more is returning home empty-handed and being forced to see my wife's disappointed face. I don't know how I'll come out of this financial and psychological mess," he cries.

But Sandhya, a religious woman, has trust in God. She says the almighty will not harm people who never harm others.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh