Pune: In an emotional homecoming that reunited a shattered family, Lakshmi, a woman from Karnataka’s Ballari district, returned to her children after 22 long years of separation caused by severe mental illness. Her return was made possible by the combined efforts of Karjat-based Shraddha Foundation and Pune’s Yerawada Regional Mental Hospital.
Lakshmi’s life took a tragic turn after the birth of her three children, when she developed a debilitating mental health condition. She would frequently wander away from home, only to be brought back by her husband—until one day, she vanished and never came back. Her children, starved of maternal affection, eventually lost hope of ever seeing her again.
In October 2016, Lakshmi’s journey brought her to Indapur in Maharashtra. Disoriented and aggressive, wielding a stick, she posed a danger to herself and others. The local police, acting on directions from the Shivajinagar court, admitted her to Yerawada Mental Hospital, where she underwent long-term psychiatric treatment and began to recover.
Nearly a year ago, with her health significantly improved, Shraddha Foundation took on the mission of reuniting her with her family. Volunteers traveled to Bellary, distributed her photographs, and sought information through local contacts. Eventually, the image reached her son. Although the ambulance transporting Lakshmi had already left by the time he received the news, he used CCTV footage to track down the contact number on the vehicle and immediately reached out to the foundation.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Lakshmi’s two daughters and son travelled to Shraddha Foundation’s Karjat centre to take her home. Despite her frail health and arrival in a wheelchair, the reunion was filled with joy and tears. One daughter now works as a nurse, while her son supports the family by driving a pickup van. Their father passed away during Lakshmi’s absence, making her return a renewed source of emotional strength.
Dr. Kshama Rathod, Senior Psychiatrist, emphasized the importance of early mental health intervention, saying, “Had Lakshmi received timely diagnosis and treatment during childbirth, her family wouldn’t have been torn apart. Mental health care can save not just individuals, but entire families.”
At Yerawada Mental Hospital, psychiatric nurse Mangal Bangar, social work superintendent Farida Shaikh, and staffer Vasappa Birajdar had earlier attempted to trace Lakshmi’s roots by speaking to her in Kannada. The success of her rehabilitation is part of a larger mission led by Dr. Bharat Vatwani of Shraddha Foundation, who, along with Yerawada Hospital, has helped 73 long-term patients reunite with their families across state borders.
Dr. Shrinivas Kolod, Superintendent of the Yerawada facility, noted, “There are currently 150 long-term patients in our care. Reuniting them with their families requires society’s support. Medication heals, but compassion completes the cure.
