KATHMANDU, July 9: A 60-year-old man from Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality has reunited with his family in Myagdi District after three decades, thanks to social media and mobile technology.
Karna Bahadur Khatri, originally from Takam in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality Ward No. 7, recently returned to his ancestral village after tracing his relatives through social media and mobile communication.
"My father, Matilal Khatri, had gone to Shillong in search of work, married there, and I was born. My mother died just 11 days after giving birth to me," Karna Bahadur said. "When my father returned home, my maternal grandparents raised me at my mother's home in Siyari Rural Municipality Ward No. 6."
About 30 years ago, relatives took him to Beni, where he obtained his citizenship certificate under his father's name before returning to his maternal home. After losing contact with him, his family eventually assumed he was no longer alive.
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His cousin, Bhumiraj KC, said the entire family was surprised when Karna Bahadur and his wife arrived in Takam a few days ago during a family ancestral worship ceremony.
"After he returned to his maternal home following his citizenship registration, we lost all contact with him and had given up hope," Bhumiraj said. "Seeing him return to his birthplace after searching for his roots has brought great happiness to all of us."
Karna Bahadur said he was born blind in his right eye and lost vision in his left eye about 20 years ago after failing to receive timely treatment for an eye injury, leaving him completely blind.
While attending bamboo stool weaving training at the office of the Association for the Blind in Rupandehi District, he met Dilmaya Chaudhary, who was also visually impaired. The couple married 10 years ago.
Dilmaya, 36, has been blind since birth. She holds a bachelor's degree in education and said she located her husband's ancestral home through social media and websites before contacting his relatives.
The couple currently lives in Siyari under the care of Dilmaya's family and Karna Bahadur's maternal relatives. They earn a living by marketing consumer goods. Their seven year old son is studying at a hostel in Lalitpur with support coordinated by the Association for the Blind.
The family survives on government social security allowances and income from their marketing work.
Although Karna Bahadur wishes to settle in his ancestral village near his relatives, he owns neither land nor property there.
Dilmaya, who also holds a teaching license, said she is looking for a teaching job.
Karna Bahadur's late elder brother's son, Bal Krishna Khatri, lives in Takam. According to Bhumiraj, another half-brother remains missing.
"We are trying to arrange a plot of land in Takam and build a house for Karna Bahadur and his wife with support from our relatives," Bhumiraj said. "As they are landless, we hope to receive assistance from the ward office, the rural municipality, relevant government agencies, and donors to help construct their home."
