Kerala Man, Stranded In Bahrain For 42 Years After Losing Passport, Reunites With Family

After more than four decades of being stranded in Bahrain, Gopalan Chandran, an Indian man from Kerala, is finally set to reunite with his family. His long-awaited return, made possible by the efforts of the Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC), an NGO that assists Indians facing legal and social challenges abroad, marks the end of a heart-wrenching ordeal.

The 42-Year Long Journey 

Chandran, originally from a small village near Powdikonam, Kerala, left for the Middle East in 1983 seeking better job opportunities. However, his life took an unfortunate turn when his employer passed away, and he lost his passport. This left him stranded in Bahrain without proper documentation, and he spent the next 42 years living in limbo, far from his home and family.

The breakthrough in his case came when the Pravasi Legal Cell, a group of retired judges, lawyers, and journalists dedicated to helping Indians in distress, took up his cause. Led by Sudheer Thirunilath and supported by Rithin Raj and Anil Thankappan Nair, the team worked tirelessly to shed light on Gopalan’s situation. They navigated legal hurdles, provided shelter, and worked to reconnect him with his family, engaging with authorities in Bahrain to resolve his predicament.

Key to the successful resolution were the collaborative efforts of the Bahrain Ministry of Interior, Immigration Department, and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), along with the Embassy of India. 

Now, after years of uncertainty, Gopalan is finally on his way back to Kerala to reunite with his 95-year-old mother, who had never given up hope of seeing her son again. Gopalan boarded his flight with nothing but memories, tears and the dream of reuniting with his family.

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