'I want to hug her once': Swedish national in Nagpur in search of biological mother

Crisscrossing continents, a 41-year-old Swedish woman hit the streets of Nagpur in search of her biological mother who gave her up for adoption four decades ago.

Patricia Eriksson, born to a 23-year-old unwed mother in Daga Hospital in Feb 1983, was adopted a year later from an orphanage by a Swedish couple. On her second visit to Nagpur in search of her mother, Patricia returned to her hotel Monday without success, but unwilling to give up on her mission.

She visited anganwadis, schools, police stations and old neighbourhoods of Shantinagar. She knocked at red-light district enquiring about "a woman named Shanta"."I just want to meet her once, hug her and shower kisses on her before leaving this planet," said Patricia. Mother of three sons, she said, "I am not here to judge anyone."

Thanking her Swedish parents Patricia said, "They brought me up well and I have no words of gratitude." But she hoped they had authentic data about her mother or her photo.

Patricia nurtured a longing to meet her mother since her childhood and would run towards any dark-skinned woman in her city. After growing up, she began scrutinising her adoption documents.