Adopted At 3, Woman Returns From Sweden To See Ailing Biological Mother In India
Nilakshi Elizabeth Jorendal, an India-born Swedish national, was adopted by foreign parents in 1976. She had been visiting India since 1990 in search of her biological mother.
Mumbai: It was an emotional moment for Nilakshi Elizabeth Jorendal, an India-born Swedish national who was adopted by a foreign couple in 1976, as she met her ailing biological mother in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal. Ms Jorendal, 44, was adopted by a Swedish couple when she was three years old. She managed to trace her biological mother through Anjali Pawar of Pune-based NGO ‘Against Child Trafficking’.
“It was an emotional reunion on Saturday at the government hospital in Yavatmal. The mother-daughter duo broke into tears,” Ms Pawar said. “Nilakshi, who was on a mission to trace her biological parents, had met her mother briefly earlier but this was a more elaborate, public reunion,” Ms Pawar said.
Ms Jorendal’s biological father, a farm labourer, committed suicide in 1973, the year she was born at Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission’s shelter and adoption home in Kedgaon near Pune.
Ms Jorendal’s mother had left her there. She later remarried, and has a son and a daughter from the second marriage. They too were present at the hospital on Saturday, Ms Pawar said.
The government gave Ms Jorendal for adoption to a Swedish couple in 1976.
“Nilakshi had been visiting India since 1990 to trace her biological mother. She visited India six times for this,” Ms Pawar said. “During the meeting on Saturday, she assured her biological mother’s family of all help in her treatment,” she added.
The transparency of the foreigners who adopt children makes the children aware about their origin. The adoptive parents even make arrangements for the grown up foster son/daughter to go searching for their biological roots. A generosity we Indians don’t have. We hide the fact from the child fearing losing her/him to the biological parents. I am happy for Nilakshi, to have found her Indian family.
There can be several reasons for the adoption – none can be undone. Neither the parent who gave away the child nor those who adopted or the child her/himself. At the same time, to realize from which humble belongings you have been lifted up to present state too could be either way. Let them be happy wherever/however they are, there should not be regrets.
I do agree with you Ms Lobo. Today the scenario has changed a lot in INDIA also.But for the stigma attached to unwed mothers who give away children for adoption the rest of the procedure has opened up. Adoptive parents do not prefer to hide the facts of adoption from the child & also from the society in general. Being an adoptive parent I know few adoptees going in search of roots after attaining the age of 18 years. In all the cases adoptive parents have supported the children whole heartedly in their quest. But in India the details furnished by the biological parents are totally untrue & the search will not be successful.
We have a long way to go to reach the level of adoption procedures followed in developed countries.
Very touching story. Good she met her biological mother and both daughter and mother may have been very, very happy.
Since she is in Sweden, she must be educated, a professional and very happy. Sweden is a highly advanced economy, with high per capita income and standard of living and least disparities in wealth.
India prides itself as the fastest growing economy, but of what use it is. You have billionaires at one end of the scale and multitude of poor, who cannot dream of basic necessities of life.