A woman from the UK searching for her estranged sister who she believed was living in Ireland is set be reunited with her for the first time in 33 years.
Surjit Nanda, who moved with her family from India to Bedford in England in 1973, arrived in Dublin last Sunday in search of her younger sister whom she nicknamed ‘P’.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Liveline yesterday, Ms Nanda, who is one of seven brothers and sisters, said she tried a number of ways to find her sibling, including submitting a Salvation Army form online.
She said: "I walked around Dublin all on Monday and Tuesday hoping to see a resemblance of myself, of my brothers and sisters."
Ms Nanda said a Dublin taxi driver advised her to contact Liveline to see if listeners could help her in her search.
"I know it was a needle in a haystack, but I’m just hoping somebody out there is listening and maybe put me in touch with her."
Ms Nanda told Joe Duffy on Liveline that her sister 'P' left the family home in the UK in 1973 at the age of 13.
At that time, Surjit, who was was aged 16, was on holiday in India. It was there that Surjit got married and in 1974 she returned to Bedford with her husband only to find out that her sister had already left.
Ms Nanda said that because she was away at the time, she does not know the circumstances as to exactly why her sister left.
They did for a period of time keep in contact through letters. However, while moving from her father’s home to her own house, Ms Nanda lost 'P's' address and has not been in touch with her since.
Ms Nanda said that when 'P' left home she hitchhiked with an Irish person to Ireland and settled here, which led her to search for her sister here.
Speaking on the programme yesterday, she made an emotional appeal for her sister saying she was "really looking forward to seeing her again".
On today’s Liveline programme, Ms Nanda confirmed that she spoke to her sister this morning, following her appeal yesterday.
Duffy told listeners that Ms Nanda’s sister called the Liveline office yesterday evening and said "I think that was my sister".
A friend of 'P's' had heard the programme while she was on a bus and told her about the appeal.
'P' did in fact marry an Irishman, who has since died, and she has five children and also grandchildren.
Duffy said he spoke to 'P' this morning who told him: "I feel reborn".
Ms Nanda said she felt the same. "I can't stop crying", she added.
Duffy said: "This is the best news I've heard in a long time".
Ms Nanda thanked "all the people in Ireland for bringing me and my sister together".
She said she has booked flights to Dublin tomorrow, where she will be reunited with her younger sister for the first time in 33 years.
