During a series of interviews in April this year, Purna Bhandari repeatedly returned to the same concern: that the psychological strain of living in hiding after his deportation from the United States was beginning to affect his memory and overall well-being.
Speaking from temporary hideouts near the India-Nepal border, Bhandari indicated that the constant fear, instability, and isolation had started to take a toll on his mental health.
“The level of stress I endure daily is immense,” Bhandari said. “I have begun forgetting things I never expected to lose track of.”
Bhandari shared that his son in the United States turned 10 during the third week of January 2026. Having lived apart from his family since his deportation the previous March, he confessed that the date slipped his mind entirely until the boy called him.
During the phone conversation, the boy spoke excitedly about the celebration. Bhandari wished him a happy birthday, but when the child asked where he was, he hesitated.
