Adopted in 1997, Swiss Woman On Hunt For Indian Biological Mom For Decade

Vidhya Philippon, a Swiss woman adopted from India in 1997, has been looking for her biological mother in India for over a decade. Philippon only knows her biological mother's name and address from the 90s, which now does not exist. She was adopted from a charity home in Mumbai's Vile Parle by a Swiss couple a year after she was born and lived in Switzerland ever since. Philippon has now come to India to look for her roots in Mumbai.

Philippon was left in Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in 1996 by her biological mother soon after she was born on February 8. Philippon is on the hunt in areas like Vile Parle, Dahisar, and Rawal Pada for leads on her biological mother. 

Decade-Long Search

Although it has been years, Philippon is still hopeful that she will reunite with her biological mother one day, as she told Asian News International. She is being assisted by Advocate Anjali Pawar, Director of Adoptee Rights Council, who said, "We are here to assist Vidhya Philippon, who came from Switzerland, to find her biological mother. She was born on February 8, 1996, and then her mother left her to the missionary charity."

The charity home has also been helpful in their search. "Missionary charity has helped us with the search and they gave some information about her mother; the address is from the Dahisar area but it is difficult as it's a fast-moving city and people keep relocating," Adv Pawar added.

Adv Pawar urged the public to help find Philippon's biological mother. She appealed, "One contact was given by a social worker who is also helping us find her mother. I cannot disclose much information about her mother but the family has the surname 'Kambli'. I am requesting people, whoever stayed in the Dahisar area at that time, to help us or find her biological mother."

Talking to Asian News International, 27-year-old Vidhya Philippon said, "Anjali is helping me find my mother. My mother was 20 years old when she gave me birth, and for 10 years I have been searching for her. I came to India with my husband. My family surname is Kambli. I wanted people in Mumbai to help me find my mother and give me information about her."