In a distressing incident, the former wife of legendary Indian cricketer Salim Durani was rescued last week from Belapur railway station in a fragile and seemingly abandoned state. The 84-year-old woman, identified as Rekha Shrivastava, was found with no memory of how she arrived at the station.
A Life in Fragments: The Rescue and Identity Verification
Rekha Shrivastava and Salim Durani, who passed away in 2023, had divorced years ago, according to a close friend of the former couple. The friend revealed that Shrivastava lived in Khar after remarrying, later moved to Mira Road with her son from that second marriage, and had been residing in an Andheri hotel for the last couple of years.
Her plight came to public attention after a video uploaded by Tarun Mishra, founder of the NGO Help Drive Foundation, went viral on Instagram. In the clip, the elderly woman claimed to be the late all-rounder's former wife. While some initially disputed the claim, conversations with multiple sources, including the old friend, and further verification confirmed her identity as Rekha Shrivastava.
Medical Condition and Search for Family
Tarun Mishra, whose NGO runs shelters for the homeless and was involved in her rescue, stated that Shrivastava is currently hospitalized and in "very poor" condition, having lost her memory. A source indicated that Durani and Shrivastava's daughter is in touch with Mishra, and discussions are underway regarding the next steps for her care.
"Once the son is traced, there will be more clarity on what exactly happened to her," the source added, highlighting the ongoing efforts to locate her immediate family.
Mishra explained the protocol followed. Shrivastava first mentioned Salim Durani's name when she was taken to the Belapur police station. "We posted the video on social media to gather more information about her, verify what she was telling us, and trace her family. We follow this process for every homeless person brought to our shelter, since many cannot recall where they are from," he told TOI.
Community Response and NGO's Stance
The connection to the famous cricketer sparked public interest. Mishra confirmed that her friends and associates later contacted him to confirm her identity. A representative of former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja also reached out to offer assistance. However, Mishra declined individual help, emphasizing the NGO's philosophy of equitable care.
"Ours is not an old-age home; it's a shelter for the homeless. We are self-sufficient in caring for everyone who comes here, and all are treated equally," Mishra stated. "We told them that if they wish to help, they can donate to the NGO—not to an individual." Mishra, based in Surat, runs over 20 such centres across Gujarat.
The incident sheds light on the vulnerable elderly and the challenges in tracing families for many homeless individuals. "There are many others at our centres whose families we still haven't been able to locate," Mishra added, pointing to a wider, often unseen issue.
Salim Durani, remembered for his charming looks and flamboyant style, played 29 Tests for India. A left-arm spinner and aggressive left-handed batter, he took 75 wickets and scored 1,202 runs, earning a reputation for his ability to hit sixes on demand and change the course of a match.
