36-year-old Jessica Linder is on a vacation in India with her husband and kids. But ‘vacation’ is not the only thing in her mind. She wants to connect with her roots, Indian culture and language.
Linder was adopted by a Swedish family in 1982 from a Sion-based orphanage, Shree Manav Seva Sangh when she was just 17 months old. As per official records, the little girl was found abandoned by two police officers at Sion hospital on October 10, 1981 and was later taken to the orphanage. This is not the first time she is in India to search her biological parents. She came to India twice –in 1999 and 2016 –with the adoption documents but it didn’t work out. But this time she is accompanied by her Australian husband and two kids. As she wants her kids to get familiar with the country she belongs to.
Linder has also hired a translator to communicate effectively in India. Her documents mention her name as ‘Kamalini’ which she has now started using. She is also familiar with words in Indian regional language which she later found to be used for ‘mother’ and ‘father’ in Hindi or Marathi. However, taking in consideration her name and looks people claim her to be a South Indian.
Talking about her days in Sweden, she alleges to be a target of racism with people questioning and comparing her looks and colour with her parents. She was also made to believe India is a dirty and unfriendly country. But all she realised is Indians are kind and helpful.
Linder has contacted few NGOs to help her out to trace her biological parents. Though on-paper her hunt seems to be useless, Linder remains motivated with hopes to find her parents some day.
