Bhopal: In a heartwarming turn of events, a video recorded by DSP Santosh Patel during a visit to an old age home in Bhopal led to an emotional reunion between a long-lost father and his son — after more than four decades.
The video, captured on July 15, 2023, went viral on social media and helped trace the identity of the elderly man, Puran Singh, a former Sub-Inspector (SI) and once a football champion in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district. The footage showed Singh standing up sharply and saluting in military style with a loud “Jai Hind” — a moment that caught the attention of millions online.
No Cake, Just Kindness
DSP Santosh Patel had visited the Aasra Old Age Home on the occasion of his wife’s birthday. The couple follows a tradition of engaging in social work instead of hosting personal celebrations. Their visit took an unexpected turn when Puran Singh’s dignified salute immediately caught Patel’s attention.
“When I entered, he stood up and saluted with such pride that I couldn’t ignore him,” DSP Patel shared. “We talked, and he told me he had served in the police force. His memory wasn’t perfect, but the spirit was unmistakable.”
The Story of Puran Singh: Duty, Loss, and Disappearance
Puran Singh, estimated to be around 85 to 90 years old, had once served in Gwalior and Bhind districts as a police officer. He was also a celebrated football player in Betul during his younger days.
Following the death of his wife in 1983, Singh’s mental health deteriorated, and he began to drift — emotionally and physically. In 1985, he ended up in Bhopal, where he stayed with a landlord friend, Qamar Khan, in Data Colony near Airport Road. After Khan’s death, his son Zahir continued to support Singh for some time before reaching out to social worker Mohan Soni, who helped move him into the Aasra Old Age Home with the assistance of the Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Department.
The Viral Video That Changed Everything
DSP Patel’s video featuring Singh’s salute spread rapidly across social media platforms. Among the thousands who watched it was Raja Singh, a man from Amravati, Maharashtra — and Singh’s biological son. At the time his father disappeared, Raja was just two years old.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the video,” said Raja Singh. “I showed it to my wife and we immediately decided to travel to Bhopal. It was an emotional moment to see him again after all these years.”
A New Chapter Begins
Raja Singh and his wife, Sangeeta, brought Puran Singh back with them to Maharashtra. While he may never fully recover all his memories, the dignity and affection he received in the old age home and the emotional closure for the family have given a new meaning to both their lives.
Social worker Mohan Soni, who was instrumental in Singh’s care, expressed his joy: “This is the kind of miracle social work sometimes leads to. It feels like we completed a story that was left unfinished for decades.”
