German Adoptee Reunion in India

“She was born out of wedlock, left in an orphanage 35 years ago, and at two, she was adopted by a German couple. But two weeks back, she returned to meet her mother’s family in Vasai. Her mother had passed away a few years ago in Goa.

Katja Mariatilbry (37), a nurse, by a mother of three arrived here on December 8 to meet her mother, Fatima Furtado. She met her aunts (her mother had four sisters), attended a cousin’s wedding, ate Indian food, wore Indian clothes and returned to her Brilon home with memories on Saturday .

A German reality TV programme Vermisst (Missing) crew travelled with Katja and documented the reunion.

Her cousin, Sandeep Salian (31), a Vasai resident who was not born when she was given away for adoption, was surprised to learn about her.”Katja cannot speak English or Hindi, and we could not understand German. Yet, it was a wonderful interaction,” said Salian, whose mother Leena was the youngest sister, and was happy to meet her.Katja travelled to the Vasai home and met her cousins.

Family members recalled that a baby was born to Fatima when they resided in Chakala, Andheri (E). She was given for adoption to the Mother Teresa orphanage in Vile Parle, and Fatima married and moved to Goa.

Most of Fatima’s family were unaware about her birth. When two, the baby was adopted by a German couple and named Katja. She was in formed about her biological mother when she grew up. Katja was keen on meeting her mother and got help from the German TV team.

Sandeep said, “Katja was sad to hear about her mother’s demise. She did not, however, have remorse against her mother and promised to visit her mother’s grave next year with her German husband and children,” Fatima did not have children with her husband.

Sandeep, his sister Sneha (26) and aunt Agnes Cook were happy to know that Katja had found a family in Germany . Katja spoke fondly about her adopted parents. The search for her family began in April, when Talitha Pezzoni began communicating with people here to look for Fatima.

Katja attended a cousin’s wedding in Chakala, where her mother stayed, on December 16. She wore an Indian outfit and enjoyed Indian food.She even visited the orphanage from where she was adopted. She returned home with pictures of her biological mother.”
Adopted German meets mom’s family after 35 years [Times of India 12/19/17 by Sandhya Nair]

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