Sometimes fate can be cruel to beyond belief but sometimes it can do wonders in one’s life. It is probably what made legendary writer William Shakespeare write ‘All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.’
The story of Jana Nayak is a perfect example of this powerful aspect in the life of humans. A resident of Gumi village in Nuagaon block of Nayagarh district, Jana had everything he could dream of, a sweet family with a wife and two children and could earn enough to feed hand to mouth.
But little did he know that his life would turn upside down to a limit that no one ever anticipated. For reasons unknown, Jana developed some kind of psychiatric disease before losing himself entirely to the darkness within his mind. He never recovered from the memory loss and went stray somewhere he himself had no idea.
Recently, a social organisation named Shraddha Foundation rescued Jana from Mumbai. Its members say they found him roaming on the streets of the city and admitted him to a private hospital for treatment.
Gradually, Jana rediscovered his identity and as the realisation dawned upon him, he recounted his past and some traces of his memories during his lost years before the members of the Shraddha Foundation. Most surprisingly, he even remembered his wife, children and village.
With help of the foundation, Jana finally returned to his home recently. But as it’s now 12 years since he went missing, a whole lot has changed during his absence. Almost all who has known him presumed him dead and so first many of his villagers failed to recognize him. His brother and sister-in-law shocked beyond belief were equally mad with happiness at his reappearance from this oblivion.
His homecoming has surely sparked moments of merriment in the entire region and for Jana as well, but there is also a part of sadness in his heart. His wife has already left for someone else along with his children.
Pandari Nayak, Jana’s brother feels guilty for not doing enough to search for his brother after he went missing. “We could do nothing thinking that he might have been dead. Its for God’s grace that he has now returned. At least I can now forgive myself,” he said.
On this remarkable act of humanity which has now brought in huge loads of appreciation for the Shraddha Foundation, Sunil Kumar Das, a member of the organisation expressed gratitude for having helped ignite smiles in the faces of Jana’s family members.