Traumatic and heartbreaking in equal measure Being so young, so vulnerable and having to survive in such a big and bustling city – being careful not to succumbing to the evils of that city and finding a way home after so many years. That remarkable little boy (sorry for using this word again but I really can’t think of a better one) never gives up and manages to survive what must have been a extremely traumatic time. I read this with tears in my eyes and can’t wait to see the film. “It’s a small regional city of less than a quarter of a million people, in the majority Hindu state of Madhya Pradesh a quiet area well known for its cotton, wheat and soybean farming” As well as the culture shock, how has your mother felt all these years not knowing where you were? Heartbreaking and his return home – probably the most remarkable journey you will ever read about. He never asked to leave, he never wanted to and has had a nice life in New Zealand ever since. The confusion, the fear, the hope that you will be welcomed back but the apprehension that you might not adapt to what you find. What a remarkable journey this is! The rediscovering your home as a man when you had left it and your parents, everything you ever knew, when you got lost that day at the train station. He gets to know this town as a adult – when he finds a group on Facebook and travels back. He takes the Kolkata train : Bhusawal Burhanpur Khandwa Allahabad Gaya Durgapur Kolkata Jamshedpur Nagpur Khandwa Imagine his fear and homesickness, the confusion and sadness? Heartbreaking. Street smart he has to be in order to survive. The fear of such a young boy getting on a series of trains trying to find his way back home, but instead being flung into the heat and humidity of Calcutta – his eyes are opened when he sees the size of the city, the bodies in the streets, the dust and depravity. Adventures in and around the train station are fun at first….until his adventure turns into a nightmare. Life is chaotic but he loves his family and his brothers. Outside the chaos and cramped conditions continue – cows wander in the street, they chase the chickens to get the eggs. He lives in one room with his family where everyone has their corner and meets in the middle. His village home is small and basic but as he says himself, it’s not as bad as living in the poor chawls – the very worst living conditions where families live on top of each other. He is proud of his small village – Ginestlay not far from Burhanpur – there is more adventure here and money and food where they go scavaging in the street. Travel Guide Two very different journeys As a boy:
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