At the age of five, the life of Saroo Brierley from a poor Indian town was split into a before and after. Due to a fateful accident, he was separated from his family and left completely alone, with no food or shelter. But he believed that one day they would see each other again, even though everyone around him thought it was impossible…

A Hungry Childhood

When Saroo Brierley was only five, his life changed dramatically – the hardships he had endured before seemed mild compared to what lay ahead. From an early age, his life was filled with trials – he was born in the poor Indian village of Ganesh Talai to a family barely scraping by. 

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There were three children in the family – Saroo and his older brothers, Guddu and Kallu. The children were constantly hungry but suddenly, a glimmer of hope for a better life appeared.

Dreams Shattered

Their father worked as a construction contractor, and the hope that he would finally secure a profitable project and earn money seemed so promising… Could they really have a chance to escape poverty and improve their lives? 

Their mother Fatima dreamed of dressing her sons in nice clothes and sending them to school... but something terrible happened – instead of caring for his family, their father betrayed them!

Fight for Survival

When Saroo was about three, his father abandoned the family, taking a second wife and plunging them further into poverty. His mother, who chose not to file for divorce, even though she had the right to by law, worked on construction sites to support herself and her children.

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But often, she didn’t earn enough to feed them all and couldn’t afford to send them to school. The poor Fatima cried into her pillow every night, not knowing what to do.

"Can We Have a Piece of Bread?"

Because of poverty, they had to resort to shameful measures. Their mother gave the children a bowl and sent them to neighbors to beg for leftover food... all the neighbors could do was pity the children and feed them. 

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From a young age, they experienced the nightmares of poverty and the betrayal of a loved one. What could be worse? But the worst was yet to come for Saroo and his family.

First Job, First Arrest

When Saroo turned five, his older brother Guddu took him along to work at the Khandwa train station, cleaning train cars and sometimes gathering food. Between shifts, the hungry children ate scraps... 

Guddu, the older and more experienced brother, became the family’s support, sometimes finding odd jobs but life in poverty was challenging: while the younger brothers stole rice and fruits, Guddu even landed in jail... How far did he go just to survive?

Relief Didn’t Last Long

Poor people sometimes resort to desperate measures... Guddu tried so hard to bring money into the family that he became reckless and was arrested for violating child labor laws – caught selling toothbrushes and toothpaste sets on the railway station platform. 

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Fortunately, he was soon released... his mother sighed with relief but not for long.

The Day That Changed Their Lives Forever

One evening, Guddu suggested that little Saroo accompany him to the nearby town of Burhanpur. The offer promised a small adventure, and Saroo agreed, unaware that this journey would mark the beginning of a long struggle for survival. 

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The train arrived in Burhanpur, and Guddu left Saroo on a bench, promising to return. Saroo waited and waited, not knowing he would never see his brother again...

The Children Were Nowhere to Be Found!

It was late at night… Guddu and Saroo were nowhere to be found at the station… Where could the boys have gone? They should have returned home long ago. 

Their mother was beside herself, unable to sit still – where were her two sons? Had something terrible happened to them? Unfortunately, it had…

The Search Continued Day and Night!

Their poor mother went from neighbor to neighbor begging for help – the entire village searched for the missing boys together. Days passed, then a week, then a week and a half… no sign of the children anywhere.

What could have happened to them? Where were the boys? It seemed that just a bit more and their mother would go mad with grief…

Could It Be They Were Found?

Two weeks had passed since the boys went missing… the police came to their mother’s door. Seeing them, Fatima became more anxious than ever – “Well, what’s the news?” she exclaimed, unable to sit still. 

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“Have you found my boys?” Yes… you need to sit down… She sensed something was wrong and nearly fainted from worry…

Not This…

The ominous silence was broken by the police officer’s voice – “We found your son.” But two children were missing! Where’s the other one? Who did you find? Is he alive?!

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Questions poured out one after another. The mother was frantic, and the police tried to calm her and deliver the news – a terrible, terrible news…

The Ground Shattered Beneath Her

The officer could no longer hold back – collecting himself, he told the mother that the body of her eldest son, Guddu, had been found near the railway tracks, struck by an approaching train about a kilometer (0.6 miles) from Burhanpur station. 

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This news simply threw the poor woman into shock... She simply couldn't breathe...

Grief-Stricken

Fatima was overwhelmed by grief... Her eldest son was dead, her second son was missing, and now she was left completely alone with a small child in her arms. 

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From now on, she had to rely only on herself. But how could she find the strength to go on and live after such a loss? Days seemed to stretch into years, so strong was her grief.

Fatima Found Strength

Gradually, pulling herself together, the woman realized she simply could not give up. First, she had a young child at home – now she alone was responsible for him. And second, her other son, Saroo, was still missing…

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Could he still be alive and unharmed? But where could he be, and what had happened to him? Two months had passed since the boy's disappearance – and still, there were no leads.

Saroo, I’m Waiting for You

Every day, Fatima prayed that Saroo was safe and believed he would return home unharmed. 

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Even when her relatives in Kallu, Burhanpur, invited her to live with them to offer her support, she refused and stayed in her native village, convinced that Saroo would one day come back to this house. 

Long Searches

Fatima didn’t give up – day after day, she searched for Saroo, traveling to different places by train. 

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The landscapes blurred before her eyes as she traveled through various towns and villages across India, questioning people and railway workers, hoping someone might have seen her son. But it was all in vain... no trace of Saroo yet. Where could he be?

That Fateful Day

The very day when Saroo's older brother, Guddu, was hit by a train became a fateful day for Saroo as well. Let’s go back to that day... 

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Five-year-old Saroo sat at the station, waiting for his brother, unaware that Guddu was already gone. Hours passed, night fell but Guddu never returned... when suddenly, a strange man approached Saroo.

Was It a Maniac?

At that time, crime was rampant in impoverished India – no one was safe from crime, especially defenseless children. A large, menacing man approached Saroo. "Boy, what are you doing here? Are you alright?" Saroo was scared and began to cry... 

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The man tried to comfort him and asked what had happened. "Come, I’ll take you home!" Oh, no! Was he about to kidnap Saroo? What were his intentions?

Saroo Was Terrified

The poor boy sensed something was wrong, despite his young age... Of course, he didn’t want to go anywhere with this giant stranger. Saroo backed into a corner at the station... and then ran away. 

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But Saroo decided not to run away from the station - after all, he believed that his brother was somewhere there.

A Fatal Decision

Saroo cried for a long time, terrified of the man and confused as to where his brother was. Suddenly, he saw a train with open doors at the station. 

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"Guddu must be on there," Saroo thought and jumped onto the train, hoping to find his brother inside... how wrong he was. He didn’t understand then how much this would change everything.

The Start of a Long Journey

As soon as the train started moving, the boy realized the doors were locked, and the landscape outside grew more and more unfamiliar. Each time the train slowed down at small stations, Saroo pulled on the door, trying to open it and escape. 

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But the lock wouldn’t budge, and with every stop, his hope dwindled... Thus began his long journey across... all of India!

Five-Year-Old Saroo Traveled 1500 Kilometers Alone!

The agonizing journey continued until the train finally arrived at the enormous Howrah Station in Calcutta. Someone slightly opened the door, and the boy, trembling with exhaustion and fear, found the strength to slip out of the carriage. 

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At that moment, he had no idea he was 1500 kilometers away from his hometown. And Saroo didn’t yet realize that the worst was still to come—his real trials were only beginning.

No Way Back

His naive hope of returning home led him back onto trains but each time he ended up back at Howrah Station. For a couple of weeks, Saroo lived on this cold, noisy platform.

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To survive, he scavenged for food scraps and slept under benches, and his dreams of returning home grew fainter with each passing day.

The City's Pull and a Fateful Encounter

But hunger and cold, unrelenting even for a moment, drove him deeper into the unfamiliar city. A few days later, wandering the streets of Calcutta, he was noticed by a railway worker who offered him food and shelter. 

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Exhausted and starving, the boy felt warmth and care for the first time—he decided to stay, believing he had found someone who would help him. However, young Saroo sensed something was wrong and began to feel uneasy.

Child Trafficking Was Thriving in India

The railway worker brought Saroo to a friend’s home, and the boy was filled with a sense of foreboding. In the house, he saw many children's belongings—clothes, shoes—but no children. 

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Something about the behavior of these people frightened him, and Saroo began to cry, feeling utterly alone and helpless.

A Daring Escape

At that time, child trafficking was flourishing in India. Who were these people who took Saroo in, and what were they planning to do with him? It’s anyone's guess. 

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At a moment when everything could turn dangerous, Saroo made the decision to flee. As soon as he made it outside, he realized he was being followed but his survival instinct pushed him forward without looking back.

Terrifying Moments

His heart pounded as his legs carried him through unfamiliar streets until finally, he disappeared into the dark of night. 

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Alone again on the harsh, cold streets, little Saroo was forced to fight for survival, with no hope of returning home, yet with a new resolve—to never give up, no matter what happened.

The Endless Journey

The wandering seemed endless for Saroo. After several days lost on noisy streets, exhausted and starving, Saroo huddled in the corner of a grimy street, lying there without strength. 

Yet, at last, luck seemed to find him—or so it seemed at first glance. Saroo found a glimmer of hope for salvation in the face of a young man who approached him.

Would Saroo Finally Be Rescued?

The guy, seeing Saroo's despair, tried to ask him what had happened but Saroo, terrified and exhausted, said nothing, only sniffled sadly. 

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The man brought him to the local police station, assuming that Saroo could be one of the many lost children who had disappeared in the city.

Would Saroo See His Mother Again?

While Saroo was at the police station, his mother was far across India, beside herself with worry. It had been over two months since one of her sons had died and the other had disappeared. 

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The police tried to question Saroo to find out where he was from but he only cried and said he wanted his mother. "Little one, we’ll do everything we can to find your mom!" promised one of the officers, and for the first time in a long while, Saroo stopped crying.

A Long and Arduous Search

While Fatima searched for Saroo on one end of India, the police on the other end were actively trying to locate his family. They questioned train station staff—maybe someone had seen which train Saroo got off, or perhaps someone had asked about him—but there wasn’t a single lead. 

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With each passing day, the hope of reuniting Saroo with his family grew dimmer and dimmer.

A New Trial for Saroo

The police, seeing Saroo’s fragile state and the lack of news about his family, took him to a state shelter for abandoned children. For weeks, Saroo lived there, surrounded by other children with stories of their own, each waiting for a chance to reunite or start anew.

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It seemed this place would bring him some relief but the situation only worsened. The constant crying of other children echoed around him, adding to his overwhelming stress.

Tortured Thoughts

Although the shelter provided food and a place to sleep, Saroo's heart ached with confusion and longing—where were his mother and brothers? What had happened to them? Would he ever see them again? 

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Then, one day, Saroo caught a glimpse of hope—a familiar face at the shelter’s entrance. The policeman who had brought him there had returned. Could it be? Had he found Saroo’s mother?

A Shocking News

"I’m sorry, little one," said the policeman as tears welled up in Saroo’s eyes. "We haven’t found your family yet, and you’ll need to leave this shelter." 

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"But where to?" Saroo cried, running to the caregiver he’d just grown accustomed to. But he was taken once more to another unfamiliar place. By evening, Saroo was already falling asleep in his new place...

A New Place

Saroo was moved to the Indian Society for Sponsorship and Adoption, a place that promised a more stable future. The staff there tried to piece together his past, asking him endless questions in the hope of locating his family. 

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But Saroo, overwhelmed, could not provide enough details for them to locate his village. Officially, he was declared a lost child, which meant something very important.

Searching for New Parents 

Now that Saroo was officially declared a lost child, it meant that a foster family would be sought for him. 

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For many lonely children, this was a dream come true but for Saroo, it meant he might never see his mother again. Worse still, as the years passed, he might even forget her entirely.

Slim Chances of Finding a Family

Many couples visited the shelter, meeting and playing with Saroo and other children but it never went further. Month after month passed; many children were adopted and found families, yet no one chose Saroo. 

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He had become accustomed to solitude and grew increasingly self-reliant, even though he was soon to turn only six.

Could They Be New Parents?

In 1987, life brought Saroo a miracle. A family from Hobart, Tasmania—a distant world in Australia—came forward with an offer to adopt him. John and Sue Brierley opened their hearts and home to Saroo, giving him the love he had longed for. 

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In September 1987, Saroo left India, embarking on a journey halfway across the world to begin a new life in far-off Australia. Little did his birth mother know how far he was and how slim the hopes of reuniting had become.

Adjusting to a New World

For Saroo, Australia was an entirely different universe. The colors, sounds, and smells were so unlike the streets of India that it felt as though he was living on another planet. Everything around him was astonishingly new—advanced technology, bustling yet quiet streets, and the endless blue sky that seemed to stretch on forever. 

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It was both a blessing and a challenge. Though his Australian parents, John and Sue Brierley, showered him with love and care, Saroo couldn’t ignore the unfamiliarity of it all and missed his home...

Learning English and Losing Hindi

Saroo worked hard to learn English. He started slowly, picking up words here and there but soon his young mind absorbed the language with remarkable speed. However, the faster he adapted, the more he drifted from his roots. 

@Saroo Brierley (Official)/facebook.com

English became the bridge that connected him to his new family but as this happened, his connection to Hindi—the language of his childhood and family—faded. One day, he realized he could barely remember certain words and phrases from his early years...

A New Brother, Mantosh

Not long after Saroo settled in, the Brierleys adopted another Indian boy named Mantosh. While Saroo welcomed the idea of a brother, their relationship was not as simple as he had imagined. Mantosh had also gone through many hardships in his early life and was initially very closed off, not wanting to connect. 

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But soon, Saroo and Mantosh became inseparable—two boys bonded in happiness while Saroo’s birth mother continued to pray each day for her son’s return home...

Letting Go of the Past

As Saroo grew older, he became more immersed in his Australian life. He excelled in school, made friends, and adapted to a lifestyle far removed from anything he’d known. At the same time, his biological mother was growing old alone... And refused to move in with relatives - still hoping that her son would return home...

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It seemed as though he was no longer connected to that past life… but he was constantly haunted by dreams of his childhood, so often seeing the faces of his mother and brothers that he would sometimes wake up in tears… only to rise and face the new world he was here to conquer.

A Young Genius

The years passed...Saroo’s adoptive parents gave him a top-tier education—he studied in one of Australia’s best schools and showed very good results.

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His life had turned out completely differently from how it would have if he had stayed in India, yet even as an adult, Saroo continued to wonder if he would ever find his real family... and one day, he invited his adoptive parents for a serious conversation...

A Frank Conversation

Saroo gathered his courage and had a frank conversation with his adoptive parents. He asked if they had any information about his birth family—if there were any clues at all. But there was nothing. With no leads, Saroo started his search alone, unable to forget his loved ones. 

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Alongside the long search, Saroo built a successful career, becoming an accomplished businessman, while his birth family continued to struggle to make ends meet on the other side of the world. Would his mother grow old and pass away without ever seeing her son again?

Two Different Lives

Saroo’s mother, Fatima, held onto hope, praying each day for her son’s safety, unaware that he had reached unimaginable heights on the other side of the world. Although over 25 years had passed since Saroo’s disappearance, she still believed he was alive and waited for him. 

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Saroo, on the other hand, wasn’t waiting—he took action, realizing everything was in his hands. And so began his tireless search for his hometown with the help of… Google Earth! Could technology make a miracle happen? Saroo was certain it could. But would it really?

Three Long Years of Searching

Three years went by as Saroo used satellite images on Google Earth to conduct his search, spending hours studying images of Indian cities. Patiently following railway lines, he relied on vague memories of landmarks. 

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He remembered only that the station name began with “B.” Then, one late night in 2011, he stumbled upon a small station that matched his childhood memories. It was a day he’d never forget.

Saroo Couldn’t Believe His Eyes

Saroo couldn’t believe it—could this place in the images really be the station where he’d once been trapped in an empty train carriage so many years ago? It was Burhanpur, eerily close to the name he remembered. Following the tracks north through Google Earth, he finally reached the town of Khandwa. 

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The images revealed familiar features—a fountain by the railway tracks where he used to play. He traced the streets, slowly piecing together a mental map, until he found the place where he once lived with his family. Saroo broke down in tears.

Facebook to the Rescue

Following this lead, Saroo joined a Facebook group in Khandwa. The group reinforced his belief that Khandwa was indeed his hometown, giving him the confidence he needed to take the next step. In 2012, Saroo traveled back to Khandwa. 

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He walked through the town, asking locals if they knew of a family that had lost a young son 25 years earlier, and this is what they told him…

Is Saroo’s Mother Still Alive?

Saroo showed townspeople his childhood photos from Hobart, hoping someone might recognize his story but nobody could help him. Saroo started to lose hope—had his mother passed away, and was his journey all for nothing? 

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However, when he approached another local, Saroo couldn’t believe his ears—the man recognized him from the photos and said, “Your mother is alive and has waited for you all these years.”

A Heart-Wrenching Reunion

Without losing a minute, Saroo asked the man to take him to his mother. When Fatima saw him, she was speechless—she recognized her son instantly! In that heart-wrenching reunion, Saroo also met his surviving brother, Kallu, who had since become a teacher and factory manager. This family reunion left no one untouched—news quickly spread throughout India, and people shed tears of joy, unable to believe that such stories could happen in real life.

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Saroo returned to Hobart, Australia, where he still lives today but he and his Indian family now stay in regular contact through a neighbor’s computer at Kallu’s house. Saroo bought his mother a home, ensuring she no longer has to work. Their bond, though separated by miles, is now stronger than ever!