A Long Way Home is a classic memoir by Saroo Brierly, narrating his early childhood and adulthood. The memoir opens with Saroo’s incredible as a young boy from India to Australia. As a young boy, Saroo is a lost Indian boy who an Australian family adopts. When Saroo was five years old, he loved his family, and he hoped that the future would be bright. Saroo lives with his mother, Kamla, brothers Kallu and Guddu, and sister Sheila. Unfortunately, things take a drastic turn when Saroo’s father decides to part ways with the family to marry another wife. Life becomes difficult for Saroo and his family because their mother could not manage to earn enough to sustain the family. Consequently, Saroo and his brothers and sister end up in the streets to beg for food from strangers.
One day, the unexpected happened. When Saroo and his brother went to the train to search for food, Guddu left him at the train station and asked him not to leave until he returned. However, Saroo realized that Guddu was taking too long to come back, and he decided to enter the train and sleep on a more comfortable bench. When he woke up, Saroo was shocked to realize that the train was full of people and in motion. The train stopped in Calcutta, and Saroo was taken to a police station, where he was given food and shelter as the authorities tried to locate his family. Unfortunately, the police did not manage to find his family and decided to hand him over to the Adoptive authority. An Australian couple he later called father and mother adopted Saroo.
The Australian couple took Saroo to Australia and did everything to help him adapt to the new environment. The couple decorated Saroo’s room with Indian artifacts and maps to make him comfortable to ensure a coherent transition. Fortunately, as time goes by, Saroos transitions to the western culture and things get even better when the family adopts another Indian boy called Mantosh to keep him company. However, Saroo keeps on wondering what is happening with his family back in India. After finishing college and getting a job, Saroo starts to research his hometown and family using Google maps and other vital channels that can help him trace his roots.
One day, Saroo decided to travel to his hometown in India, and he received great support from his Australian parents. Fortunately, Saroo arrives in Khandwa town in India and reunites with his mother, sister, and brother Kallu. Unfortunately, Saroo learns that Guddu was killed by the train the day he got lost. Saroo’s family in India is happy and appreciates the efforts and good work of the Australian family in taking good care of Saroo. To make peace with his past, Saroo decides to visit Calcutta and thank all those people and institutions that helped him when he got lost to the point when an Australian couple adopted him.
