Spanish Citizen Returns to Bhubaneswar to Trace Her Roots, Faces Time Crunch

Bhubaneswar: Sneha Enrique Vidal, a 21-year-old Spanish citizen, has returned to Bhubaneswar on an emotional journey to locate her biological parents. Sneha was adopted as a toddler, along with her younger brother, by a Spanish couple over a decade ago. Now, with just one day left before she must return to Spain for academic commitments, her quest remains incomplete.

Sneha and her brother, Somu, were abandoned by their biological mother, Banalata Das, in 2005 and placed in an orphanage in Bhubaneswar. They were adopted in February 2010 by Gema Vidal, a yoga teacher, and her husband Juan Josh, who brought them to Spain. Sneha, now a researcher in children’s education, returned to Odisha with Gema on December 19, determined to find answers about her past.

“The purpose of my journey from Spain to Bhubaneswar is to find my biological parents, especially my mother. I want to find her and meet her. I am fully prepared for the journey, even if it is difficult,” Sneha told PTI.

Her search has been challenging, relying on limited information about her early years. The family enlisted the help of a retired teacher, Sneha Sudha Mishra, who facilitated local contacts and introduced them to Commissioner of Police Dev Datta Singh.

Police investigations revealed that Sneha’s biological parents, Banalata and Santosh Das, hail from the Badamba-Narsinghpur area in Cuttack district. Inspector Anjali Chhotray confirmed that police and panchayat officials are actively trying to locate them.

Santosh Das, Sneha’s biological father, worked as a cook but abandoned his family, which included his wife and four children. In 2005, Banalata left their rented house in Nayapalli’s Bhoi slum with two of her children, leaving Sneha and Somu behind. The siblings were subsequently placed in an orphanage after their plight was reported by the landlord.

As their search intensified, Sneha and Gema discovered leads but are running out of time. “We have to return to Spain as Sneha has joined a training programme which should not be discontinued,” said Gema. She added that they plan to return in March for a longer stay if they are unable to locate Sneha’s mother by Monday.

Despite the looming deadline, Sneha remains hopeful. If she meets her biological mother, she plans to ask the reasons for the abandonment, seeking closure to a chapter that has shaped her life.

This deeply personal journey underscores the complexities of identity and belonging, as Sneha strives to reconnect with her roots and find answers that have eluded her for years.