Punjab Man Returns Home, After 23 Years Stranded in Lebanon

Chandigarh: Gurtej Singh, a native of Mattewara village in Ludhiana district, Punjab , had dreams of a brighter future for his family. In 2001, he journeyed to Lebanon, joining a small group of villagers, with the hope of earning a better living. However, his aspirations were met with unexpected challenges.

When war erupted in Lebanon in 2006, many of his fellow villagers returned home. Unfortunately, Singh found himself stranded, unable to leave due to the loss of his passport. This unforeseen circumstance led to a prolonged separation from his loved ones.

"I went to Lebanon in 2001 for work to give a better life to my family," said Singh, now aged 55.

"(When the war broke out) I also wanted to return to India. I went to the Indian Embassy several times but they wanted some proof (to issue a duplicate passport)," he told PTI on Saturday.

He finally returned to India on September 6 after AAP Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal raised the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs.

Seechewal said he took up the matter with the authorities concerned, following which a copy of Singh's lost passport was made available and he could finally return.

Singh admitted that, having lost his passport, he lived in constant fear of being caught.

He said he used to think how he would return to India in the absence of a passport. His family in India also tried to facilitate his return but in vain.

Unable to get a duplicate passport, Singh said he thought he might never see his family again.

"I used to think how I would go back to India," he said.

Before moving to the Lebanon -- where he worked as a labourer at a vegetable farm -- Singh was employed in a factory manufacturing sweaters in Ludhiana.

When he went to Lebanon, Singh said his elder son was six years old and the younger one was three.

"Now, my elder son has a six-year-old son," he said. His younger son is yet to get married.

With PTI Inputs