THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2024
Team Herald
VASCO: In a heart-warming incident, an octogenarian Amir Bhai Sangariyat reunited with his family from Gujarat after a span of 42 years, due to strenuous efforts of Dr Mehul Shukla.
Sangariyat, who was missing from Gujarat, however landed up at Vasco about 42 years ago. But since he lost his memory he started staying with a family at Baina till he was finally reunited with his family.
According to family members, Sangariyat was a prominent businessman and on the fateful day he had left for Mumbai for a business trip but fell sick and lost his memory. He then reached Goa from Mumbai and worked for a popular restaurant in the port town till a family from Baina allowed him to stay with them and made him their family member for the last 42 years.
But a few days back, 81-year-old Sangariyat fell ill and Dr Shukla sought to know his family history and medical history and realised that the octogenarian was from Gujarat and did not recollect anything much besides his native village.
Dr Shukla, who also incidentally hails from Gujarat, contacted a medical practitioner working in the primary health centre in Jambhut village and to his utter luck, he came to know that it was Sangariyat’s native village and his son Yusuf Amir worked in the same primary health centre till he retired recently.
It was here Dr Shukla established contact with his son Yusuf Amit, who told him that his father had gone missing about 42 years ago, when Yusuf was 14 years old. Dr Shukla then started interacting with both the families and finally confirmed that Sangariyat was the father of Yusuf Amir.
Following this, entire family from Gujarat came to Goa on Monday and reunited with Sangariyat on Tuesday morning. It was more heartening when Sangariyat, who had partial memory loss, somehow recollected the past and enquired about his wife, children - four sons and two daughters - and his brothers.
Sangariyat later expressed his gratitude to Adarsh Restaurant, Vasco for providing him with food and shelter for a long time. He also recounted about his business in Gujarat employing more than 100 employees till he suffered losses and fell sick in Mumbai.
“I am blessed that I am reunited with my family again,” Sangariyat said.
The family profusely thanked Dr Shukla for his initiative to reunite them with Sangariyat. Dr Shukla too expressed his happiness that he could unite Sangariyat with his family.
