To everyone who knew him, Jitendra Thadeshwar or Jitubhai was the unsung ambassador of peace who would never harm anyone. No, Jitendra Thadeshwar did not appear on TV and he wasn’t famous. But in his own way, he stood for peace.To his family, he was no less than a hero. “He was the mukhiya of our house. He was the thread that kept us together under one roof,” says Hiren, his eldest son. “Though people say time heals all wounds, for us each passing day has been tormenting.” In the six months that have passed since Jitendra died in one of the train blasts of 7/11, their three sons have seen to it that their mother is “protected” from the memories of that day. They monitor her phone calls and guests to their Kandavali home to ensure Kundanben is not led to revisit the horrible day. “He would never think of causing harm to anybody. He sincerely believed in one’s Karma,” says Haresh, Jitendra’s second son. Jitubhai belonged to the goldsmith community of Chavand village in Gujarat’s Amreli district. He came to Bombay three decades ago and had been living in Kandivali ever since. Jitendra dealt in artificial jewellery, getting work done through skilled craftsmen. Only Hiren has carried on that legacy, while Haresh and Sameer pursue other occupations.Both Hiren and Haresh are married. Jitendra’s happiness knew no bounds when he became a grandfather: Hiren and his wife became the proud parents of Mahek. Now two years old, Mahek still waits for her grandfather to return from a long trip. Jitubhai, who enjoyed reading and solving crosswords, was a man of commitment. Once he gave his word, he would put all his effort to fulfil his commitment. And, if he was unable to keep his word, he would admit it. “It was this trait that he tried to inculcate in all his children,” says Haresh. The family always knew he was a benevolent man. But it was only after his death that they realised he had helped several families monetarily. Jitendra was in a Borivali-bound train in the first class compartment when a bomb exploded in it near Santacruz station. He was taken to Cooper Hospital.“We are middle class people. We have nothing to do with the agenda of terrorists. Why people like my father and others were targeted is a question for which we are yet to get an answer,” says Haresh. But Hiren appreciates the efforts of The Indian Express’ ongoing series “187 Mumbai Life Stories”, which talks about people like his father. The issue, he says, needs to be kept alive.
