Sneha, a 21-year-old researcher in children’s education from Spain, embarked on a deeply personal journey to Odisha, India, in search of her biological mother. Abandoned in Bhubaneswar in 2005 at the age of one, along with her four-year-old brother Somu, Sneha was later adopted by a Spanish couple, Gema Vidal and Juan Josh. Armed with limited information, but supported wholeheartedly by her adoptive parents, Sneha and her mother Gema traveled to the orphanage in Bhubaneswar where she and her brother lived until their adoption in 2010.
Sneha’s primary goal was to reconnect with her birth mother, Banalata Das. Speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Sneha expressed her determination to find her, stating, “The purpose of my journey from Spain to Bhubaneswar is to find my biological parents, especially my mother. I want to find her and meet her. I am fully prepared for the journey even if it is difficult.” The urgency of Sneha’s training program in Spain imposed a time constraint on their search; Gema noted they would return in March if their search for Banalata proved unsuccessful within 24 hours.
Their investigation led them to Sneha Sudha Mishra, a retired teacher at Rama Devi Women’s University, and Dev Datta Singh, the city’s Commissioner of Police. Through their assistance, Sneha’s biological parents were identified as Banalata Das and Santosh Das, residing in the Badamba-Narsinghpur area of Cuttack district. The police immediately assigned officers Anjali Chhotray and Gangadhar Pradhan to locate them. Inspector Chhotray confirmed their efforts, stating, “We have found out that Banalata Das and Santosh are from Badamba-Narsinghpur area in Cuttack district. We have engaged police and panchayat functionaries to locate them.”
The story reveals a heartbreaking family separation. Banalata abandoned Sneha and Somu at their rented home in Nayapalli after her husband, Santosh, a cook, had previously left the family. Banalata had other children, leaving Sneha and Somu behind before eventually leaving herself. The landlord notified the authorities, leading to the children’s placement in the orphanage.
Despite the difficult circumstances of her early life, Sneha expressed immense gratitude towards her adoptive parents. She shared with PTI, “My Spanish parents have given us everything. They have never made us feel like we were adopted. They have given us unconditional love.” This statement underscores the profound impact of loving and supportive adoptive parents in shaping a child’s life, even amidst a powerful desire to connect with biological family.