In an astonishing turn of events, a 79-year-old man, long believed to be dead by his own family, reappeared in his hometown after a disappearance spanning 27 years. The unexpected return was triggered by an official requirement linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
An Emotional Reunion After Decades
Sharif Ahmad arrived in Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, on December 29. He had settled in West Bengal for many years following his second marriage after the death of his first wife, and had cut off all contact with his native family since 1997. His nephew, Waseem Ahmad, revealed to PTI that the family had made extensive efforts to trace him, even travelling to West Bengal, but all attempts failed. With no contact for decades, his four daughters and relatives had presumed he was no longer alive.
The emotional reunion brought both joy and sorrow. During his visit, Sharif Ahmad discovered that many close family members, including his father and brother, had passed away in his absence. "Seeing him after so many years was a deeply moving experience for all of us," Waseem said, describing the family's shock and happiness.
The Catalyst: Special Intensive Revision of Voter List
The sole reason for Sharif Ahmad's return was to collect documents necessary for the Special Intensive Revision exercise in West Bengal. The SIR, initiated by the Election Commission on October 27, has specific requirements that compelled him to re-establish contact with his native place. The process mandates voters to be 'mapped' to the electoral roll of the last intensive revision held in 2002 in West Bengal, either through their own presence or that of a relative on that old roll, to continue as voters.
Following his brief visit to Muzaffarnagar, Ahmad returned to West Bengal's Medinipur district, where he now lives, to complete the SIR formalities. The draft electoral rolls for West Bengal, published on December 16 after the SIR, saw the deletion of over 58 lakh voters on grounds including death and migration, redrawing voter profiles ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.
Political Context and Controversies
The SIR process in Bengal has been mired in political controversy. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee met the Election Commission bench over the SIR, alleging that the party's concerns were not addressed and that the Chief Election Commissioner was "aggressive". The massive deletion of voter names has become a significant point of contention between the ruling party and the election authority.
Sharif Ahmad's extraordinary personal story underscores the wide-reaching and sometimes deeply personal impact of large-scale bureaucratic exercises like the electoral roll revision, connecting individual lives to the broader machinery of democracy.
