Indore: Geeta shares memories of family with media at IBDA

After spending more than 10 days at Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy (IBDA), Geeta, a deaf-and-mute girl who had accidentally crossed over to Pakistan, has begun learning sign language.

Welcoming media persons with a “Namaste” in sign language, Geeta shared recollections of her family with Indian media for the first time at IBDA on Friday.

Geeta said they were four siblings-two brothers and two sisters in the family. Her mother was fair and used to wear sarees while her father had a moustache and wore kurta pajamas. She added that there was a temple and a maternity home near her house, along with sugar cane and rice farms. She added that she used to go to school wearing a uniform in checks of red and white.

Believing in education, Geeta said she wants to build her career so that she could find her lost parents. When asked why she refused to identify a couple whom she admitted to be her parents in a video conference from Pakistan, she said she had found similarities during the conference but cited major differences after meeting them in person.

Starting her day by performing puja at IBDA, the girl said she used to look after younger children at Edhi Foundation. With help in sign language from Monica Punjabi, Geeta said although she loves her country, those 15 years at Edhi Foundation would remain unforgettable for her.

She added that she has been preparing for her first Diwali celebration along with fellow inmates at the centre. She also expressed desire to meet actor Salman Khan of Bajrangi Bhaijan fame and said she is confident that Bhaijan will help her find her lost parents.

Help Ramzan meet his mother: Geeta

Geeta urged Indian media and the ministry to help 15-year-old Mohammad Ramzan, a Pakistani boy, who has remained stranded in Bhopal for the past two years, to reunite with his mother. “I’ll be the happiest person once Ramzan returns to his country and meets his mother,” Geeta said.

2 families have claimed to be parents of Geeta: Collector

The district collector said two families have claimed to be parents of Geeta till date.

“Acting as per the law, the district administration had forwarded their applications to the Ministry of External Affairs and after the MEA’s decision, a call will be taken on it,” district collector P Narhari said.

Narhari added that Geeta had received an invitation from a television channel on the next day of her arrival in Indore, but it was rejected as it was not addressed to the district administration.