New Delhi/Mumbai:
Shamsher Singh was living in Midnapore in West Bengal, but in the last two-and-a-half years he has learnt to find his way around Delhi.
"We met the Lok Sabha Speaker, Shipping Minister, Foreign Minister and then the Prime Minister on March 10," says the 47-year-old. "There is no minister left that we have not met. I personally went to Rahul Gandhi's house 10 times. Security men did not let me in.''
In August 2010, his 21-year-old son, Satnam, was among a group of about 20 sailors who were taken hostage by Somalian pirates. His son's employers - a shipping company - agreed to pay a one million dollar ransom, but the pirates wanted more.
Shamsher Singh has spoken twice to his son since he was taken hostage. The only reassurance the conversations have offered is that his son is alive. "The pirates give one bottle of water for three people - and it has to last them ten days."
Currently, Somalian pirates are holding 33 ships captives. 53 of their hostages are Indians - some have been waiting to be freed for more than a year.
Negotiations have broken down after pirates double-crossed the owners of Asphalt Venture - which had several Indians on board and was captured in September. Despite being paid a multi-million dollar ransom (it's not clear what the final settlement was) for 15 men, the pirates at the last minute refused to release seven Indian hostages. They have said they won't change their minds unless India releases 100 Somalian pirates captured by the navy in recent months.
The last-minute deviation from a carefully-drawn plan has united ship owners and unions into taking a stand - no more negotiations till the seven hostages on Asphalt Venture are freed.
''We have a good number of people in our custody. They have taken our Indian hostages and are trying to bargain with us. I believe the Government of India will take a position on this. Our prime interest is to save the life of every sailor,'' said Vayalar Ravi, the Union Minister for Overseas Affairs.