| Font Size |
Jebunissa, a resident of Arsh Colony in Vatva, told Newsline: “We were awaiting this day. We have waited for it for seven long years. When my son went missing in 2002, I had pledged a visit to Ajmer Sharif dargah once we found him. Although I always thought that it will never be fulfilled, now I am quite confident that we will get our son back, especially after the High Court’s order and Muzaffar’s homecoming.”
Almost all the residents of Arsh Colony gathered at Sheikh’s home and celebrated the occasion by beating drums and distributing sweets. Jebunissa and her husband got themselves photographed with their son and explained to him his relationship with them.
On being asked how he felt, the boy said: “Achha to nahin laga, lekin dhire dhire achha lagne lagega (I don’t feel good, but will start feeling well gradually).”
Muzaffar was brought up as Vivek by Meena and Vikram Patni in Saraspur area after they found him during the 2002 riots, when he was just two-years-old. Seven years later, he was identified as the missing son of Jebunissa and Mohammed Salim Sheikh by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team. The Sheikhs are now fighting a legal battle to reclaim the custody of their son. The Gujarat High Court, in a recent order, asked Meena Patni to let the boy stay with his biological parents at least once a week till the next hearing on January 27. Meena accompanied the boy when he went to see the Sheikhs on Sunday.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
This story provokes great deal of thaught.Problems of the child are complex.Love of all is great.Selfishness , belonging and owning is awesome.Rights of birth parents and caretaker parents are to be considered.Alienation and affection,familiarity habit.Then comes religion.Is it possible to raise this child with great sensitivities for his both religions.Can world let him choose as he matures without comment and great inspection.Other question is valid should we study him to understand human motivations better.This all raises more questions than can be answered.He is alive and has prospered in great adversity and by help from people with little resources other than love. Love is strange it can make mothers give up children for their good.It sure needs more wisdom than Solomon possessed.Let him pray in Masjid and Mandir.When he is adult let choose how he wants to practice his faith or not.
I pray that in the times to come, we make religion irrelevant in our country. Then there will remain nothing to kill or die for. Utopia?