Man who went missing 22 years ago when he was 11 returns home as monk
The man, identified as Pinku, decided to come to his village after visiting the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
A man who went missing as a boy returned home after 22 years as a monk. As per reports, this incident took place in Uttar Pradesh. The young man reportedly went missing in February 2002.

The man, Pinku, went missing when he was 11 years old, reports Amar Ujala. Soon after he met a saint and chose the life of sainthood. He decided to come to his village after visiting the newly inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 27.
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When Pinku reached his village, he revealed his identity to his uncle and some other villagers. They informed his father Ratipal, who at the time was working in Delhi. He returned home and identified his son from an injury mark on his stomach.
A video of the monk singing a song while playing a traditional Indian musical instrument was shared on X.
The family members reportedly made lots of efforts for Pinku’s return but he went back after collecting alms from the village. Later, Ratipal told Amar Ujala that he would have to organise a Bhandara for the religious sect his son belongs to so that Pinku could return home.
According to the outlet, the cost for the event was calculated to be around ₹10 lakh, including dakshina and food for each monk. However, later the amount was reduced to around ₹3 lakh. Ratipal also told Amar Ujala that he would keep his farmland as a mortgage to raise the money to help his son return home.
ABOUT THE AUTHORTrisha SenguptaTrisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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