Abandoned in Nagpur, Raised in Amsterdam, Now a Dutch Mayor: Returns to India After 41 Years in Search of His Biological Mother

Falgun Binnendijk, abandoned as a three-day-old infant in Nagpur and born out of wedlock, is today the Mayor of Heemstede in the Netherlands. Every morning, as he gazes at the pristine canals of his adopted country, memories of his birthplace quietly resurface. Forty years later, he has returned to India for the third time, hoping to reunite with the mother who gave him life.

Left in an Orphanage by an Unmarried Mother
Official records confirm that Falgun was born on 10 February 1985 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Just three days after his birth, his 21-year-old unmarried mother entrusted him to the Matru Seva Sangh (MSS), an organization providing shelter to abandoned infants and women in distress.

The Origin of ‘Falgun’
Falgun stayed at the orphanage for one month, during which a nurse named him after the month of his birth—February, or Falgun in the Hindu calendar. Within weeks, the legal process for his adoption began, and he was taken to Mumbai.

Growing Up in the Netherlands
Shortly after, he was adopted by a Dutch couple and brought to the Netherlands, where he grew up in a prosperous family, largely unaware of his Indian roots except for occasional glimpses on maps in school textbooks. Falgun says he was always aware of his adoption, and it was never hidden from him.

Rising to Public Office
Falgun returned to India for the first time in 2006 as an 18-year-old tourist, exploring South India and feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Over the years, his curiosity about his roots grew.

In the Netherlands, Falgun chose a life of public service and eventually entered politics, becoming the Mayor of Heemstede, located 30 km from Amsterdam.

A Journey Back to Roots
In 2017, he returned to Nagpur with a purpose—to trace the documents related to his surrender at MSS. While some details were recovered, including his birthdate and mother’s name, the trail ran cold due to missing addresses.

Back in the Netherlands, he married and became a father of four, continuing his political career, yet the void of unanswered questions lingered. His wife noticed this emptiness and encouraged him to resume the search.

Official Support in India
In August 2024, Falgun returned to Nagpur seeking official assistance. With the help of Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhary and District Collector Vipin Itankar, old records were accessed, though the search faced hurdles.

Returning once again in December 2025, under the guidance of senior district administration officer Vinod Jadhav, the team located a retired nurse who had worked at MSS during his surrender. Meeting her proved deeply emotional. Falgun realized that she was the very nurse who had named him Falgun decades ago. Both were moved to tears at this reunion, recognizing the shared bond of those early, fleeting moments of his life.

A Long-Awaited Meeting with His Mother
Asked about meeting his biological mother, Falgun expressed hope and empathy. “She may have lived with guilt, thinking she did something unforgivable. I just want to meet her once and show her that I am well, that my life is beautiful, and that her child was raised with love,” he said.