Mangaluru: Chandrashekar from Iruvailu village, who had left for Mumbai 36 years ago and lost contact with his family due to mental health issues, has finally returned home and reunited with his 80-year-old mother. The eldest of five siblings born to Sankappa and Gopi of Madhugirivan, Konnepadavu, Chandrashekar disappeared after leaving the village in search of work.
Initially, he took up temporary jobs in Mumbai but soon fell ill, both physically and mentally. His condition led him to wander the streets of the city, eventually losing all communication with his family back home.
A compassionate Marathi man, Balu Kamble, noticed Chandrashekar’s situation and took him in. He received care and slowly recovered. Over time, he started working at a hotel and settled into a quiet life, unaware of his family’s continued search for him.
Back in Iruvailu, the family found hope during a divine ritual where the village deity had assured them their lost son was alive and would one day return to perform sacred duties. The breakthrough came during a Brahma Kalash event in Kuppettu, where a Mumbai-based villager hinted at Chandrashekar’s whereabouts. Contact was established, and he returned three days before the deity’s darshan on May 29.
Now 60, Chandrashekar expressed gratitude to the deity and his family. He said he intends to work a little longer in Mumbai but promises to stay connected and be part of family religious functions.