The Prodigal Son Returns as an Ascetic: A Tale of Lost and Found in Amethi
In an event that has captivated the hearts of many and brought a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district to a standstill, a son who vanished without a trace 22 years ago made an enigmatic return. Pinku, who was just 11 years old when he disappeared, returned to his village not as the boy his mother once knew, but as an ascetic, adorning the traditional garb of a monk and seeking alms from the woman who gave him life.
The emotional reunion, captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media, depicts Pinku, now a grown man, playing the sarangi and singing melancholic folk songs reminiscent of King Bharthari’s legend. This folklore, much like Pinku’s own story, narrates the journey of a king who renounces his throne to lead a life of asceticism.
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As Pinku serenaded the tales of yore, his mother, identified as Bhanumati, was seen in the video, overwhelmed with tears at the sight of her long-lost son. The scene, bearing a striking resemblance to the historic Bhawal Case of the 1920s, has ignited discussions about identity, belonging, and the complexities of familial bonds.
Pinku’s disappearance traces back to 2002, following a familial dispute over a seemingly trivial matter of playing marbles. Fueled by youthful rebellion and a scolding from his mother, Pinku embarked on a journey that would eventually lead him down the path of spiritual asceticism, far removed from his life in Delhi with his parents.
The village of Kharauli in Amethi became the stage for this extraordinary reunion last week when Pinku, or the ascetic as he is now known, arrived at his ancestral home. The news quickly spread, prompting his parents to travel from Delhi to Amethi, where they confirmed his identity through a recognizable scar.
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However, the reunion was fleeting. Pinku, adhering to his monastic duties, left soon after receiving alms from his mother, a ritual he explained was necessary for his initiation into the monastic life. His departure was against the wishes of his family and the villagers, who pleaded for him to stay.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Pinku’s father, Ratipal Singh, revealed that the religious sect to which his son now belongs has demanded a sum of ₹11 lakh for his release—a sum far beyond the family’s financial reach.
“I do not have ₹11 in my pocket, how can I pay ₹11 lakh?” lamented Ratipal Singh, encapsulating the despair and helplessness felt by the family.
Pinku’s journey from a boy lost to a monk found, while steeped in spiritual significance, leaves behind a trail of unanswered questions and a family yearning for their son’s presence. As the village of Kharauli and the wider community reflect on this tale of separation and rediscovery, the story of Pinku serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable ways in which life unfolds, bridging the material with the spiritual, and the personal with the communal.