Bhubaneswar: In a story brimming with hope and resilience, 21-year-old Sneha Enrique Vidal, a Spanish citizen with Odia roots, has returned to Bhubaneswar on a heartfelt quest to reunite with her biological parents. Adopted as a toddler by a Spanish couple 20 years ago, Sneha is determined to uncover the story of her early life before she returns to Spain for her educational commitments.
Sneha and her younger brother, Somu, were adopted in 2010 by Gema Vidal and Juan Josh, a compassionate couple from Spain. Their journey began in an orphanage in Bhubaneswar, where they were placed after being abandoned in 2005. At the time, Sneha was just over a year old, and Somu was only a few months old.
Now a researcher specializing in children’s education, Sneha decided to return to Odisha with her adoptive mother, Gema, on December 19 to reconnect with her roots and seek answers about her past. “I want to meet my mother and understand why she made the choices she did. It’s a journey I’ve long prepared for, no matter how challenging,” Sneha shared.
With scant details about her biological parents, Sneha’s search has been anything but easy. However, her journey has been buoyed by the kindness of strangers. Retired professor Sneha Sudha Mishra stepped in to provide local assistance, helping the mother-daughter duo navigate their search.
Their determination also reached the ears of Commissioner of Police Dev Datta Singh, who assigned officers to locate Sneha’s biological parents. Investigations led to Cuttack district’s Badamba-Narsinghpur area, where her parents, Banalata and Santosh Das, are believed to have resided.
The search has unveiled pieces of a poignant family story. Santosh, who once worked as a cook, abandoned the family, leaving Banalata to fend for their four children. In 2005, circumstances forced Banalata to leave their rented home in Bhubaneswar’s Bhoi slum with two of her children, leaving Sneha and Somu behind. Authorities later moved the siblings to an orphanage, paving the way for their adoption in Spain.
Though the search is ongoing, Sneha remains hopeful. Her adoptive mother, Gema, a yoga teacher in Zaragoza, shared, “If we don’t find her biological mother now, we will return in March for a longer stay. Sneha’s education is important, but so is this journey of self-discovery.”
Sneha’s story exemplifies the universal longing for belonging and identity. Her journey, though challenging, is a testament to resilience, love, and the human spirit. With the support of the community and local authorities, Sneha hopes to rewrite her family’s narrative, connecting the past with the present in a bond that transcends borders.
