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A link that never snaps

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The three rescued fishermen spending a relaxed evening with the family of Purnachandra Sethi.

BERHAMPUR: The emotional links never get snapped even when one crosses geographic boundaries. This link prompted Purnachandra Sethi’s family of Berhampur to adopt the three poor fishermen of Myanmar who were rescued at Gopalpur coast last month after being marooned in the sea on a float for more than two months. Sethi and his family who were residents of Myanmar had officially snapped every link with the country way back in 1969 when they had preferred to come back to India to settle down in the land of their forefathers. Along with some other Burma expatriates they settled down on the outskirts of the city. Their street is still called Burma colony. Sethi was only 15 years old when he left Myanmar. He now serves as a driver with the Indian Rare Earths’ Limited. But the knowledge of Burmese language due to his schooling in Rangoon has made him saviour of marooned fishermen. "It is the call of the humane element hidden in us," Mr Sethi said. He took the rescued fishermen, Zan U, Zaw Lwin and Ko Lin on bail from the Gopalpur police station on personal bond when he heard otherwise they may be sent to jail. Now these rescued fishermen are residing in the small house of Mr Sethi as his family members as they are the only ones who can communicate with these illiterates who cannot understand any language other than Burmese. With his little income this family is ready to feed these three persons till they get back to their country.

Forest officials recently employed these fishermen as daily labourers for two days to provide them some income at the request of Mr Sethi. Mr Sethi has prepared official documents in Burmese for interaction with Myanmar embassy for the return of these rescued fishermen. As per his past experience it would take at least one and half years for these fishermen to return to their country. In 1992 he and his family had become saviour for nine fishermen from Myanmar rescued at Gopalpur, who could return in 1994. They had provided food and shelter to these marooned fishermen without any government help. Later they had again repeated the same for seven fishermen who were rescued in Puri.

Despite financial constraints Mr Sethi’s family continues this as homage to their links with Myanmar without any official help. "I am one among the only three in Orissa who can write Burmese, so how can I let these poor illiterates from my erstwhile homeland languish in jail," he said.

But he wanted the district police and administration to provide some help in his efforts.

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