DREAM TO DEATH

Jailed, or dead at the border-this has been the fate of many illegal migrants from Gujarat to the US. But agents often go scot-free

- NANDINI OZA

THERE IS A steady stream of mourners at Manekpura village in north Gujarat’s Mehsana district. Political leaders, too, drop in to pay their respects. The mourners gather outside Ashwinbhai Chaudhary’s two-storey house. On April 1, the bodies of his elder brother and family were recovered from a marsh bordering the St Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. Pravinbhai, 50, his wife Daksha, 45, daughter Vidhi, 23, and son Mit, 20, had reportedly drowned while trying to cross over to the US illegally. Inside Ashwinbhai’s house, Kakuben, 75, is grieving the death of her eldest son. At her age, she is unable to bear the four blows at one go, and so mourners are not allowed to meet her.

Just 200m from Ashwinbhai’s house stands Pravinbhai’s two-storey house. He also owned around 2.4 acres. Villagers said that he ran a business, but did not know the specifics. Vidhi was in her final year of MBA and Mit was doing his graduation.

Pravinbhai’s cousin Jasubhai tells THE WEEK that the family of four had travelled to Canada on a tourist visa in February. Since then, their house has remained shut. Jasubhai claims Pravinbhai never talked about going to the US. He was in touch with him till a fortnight ago. Ashwinbhai does not remember when he last spoke to his elder brother. He is getting his passport renewed to go to Canada.

“We cannot afford to bring the bodies back home,” says Jasubhai. “It will cost ₹20 lakh for each body. It will be good if the government can get it. Otherwise, two family members should be given a visa to go to Canada and perform the last rites.”