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They still serve strangers water
Updated On: 16 November, 2009 12:08 PM IST | | Ketan Ranga and Bipin Kumar Singh
Thirsty Qasab had come knocking. Jamnaben Waghela's son gave him water. He drank and shot the son dead. One year later, MiD DAY finds...
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Thirsty Qasab had come knocking. Jamnaben Waghela's son gave him water. He drank and shot the son dead. One year later, MiD DAY finds...
The Indian tradition of offering water to a thirsty person, no questions asked, claimed the life of Thakur Buddhabhai Waghela (33) on November 26, 2008.
Thakur had just sat down to eat home-cooked biryani with his son, Neeraj (3). His wife, Karuna (30) and their two other sons, Dhaval (7) and Roshni (11), were away.
The door to their house in the hutment at GT Hospital was ajar, the curtains drawn.
At 10.15 pm, Ajmal Amir Qasab and Abu Ismail opened the curtain and asked Thakur for water.
After the men drank their fill, Qasab picked up his AK 47 and shot Thakur dead a bullet in exchange for a glass of water.
It is in this backdrop that we decided to find out whether the tragedy that had befallen the family had changed them.
Yesterday, MiD DAY reporter, Bipin Kumar Singh, knocked on Thakur's mother, Jamnaben's door and repeated Qasab's request.
She was serving dinner to her son Bharat Waghela and said, "Oh! you want water? A man like you came to our house on November 26 asking for water.
We had been watching TV and had seen a news flash that there was firing at CST.
You know what happened after that. But don't worry, I will give you water, it's my duty. Punya ka kaam hai yeh," said Jamnaben.
Terrible memories
Her son Bharat came to the door with a glass of water and offered it to the reporter, "We usually avoid giving water to anyone in the night, but we won't deny you water."
It was only after Bipin drank his fill, that we told the family we were from MiD DAY.
Bharat smiled and said, "Of course, we will give any stranger water. But it brings back terrible memories."
Jamnaben added, "My room is opposite my son's [Thakur's] and I thought the men were commandoes [Qasab and Ismail were carrying guns].
u00a0
My son had just handed the men glasses of water, when I told them, 'My son is alone at home, tell me what you want?" said Jamnaben.
In reply, Qasab shot Thakur. "My mother kept shouting, 'Don't kill my son, but he didn't listen. His associate shot at my mother, but missed.
I pulled her inside the house and bolted the door, leaving my brother dying outside,"u00a0 said Bharat.
The Indian tradition of offering water to a thirsty person, no questions asked, claimed the life of Thakur Buddhabhai Waghela (33) on November 26, 2008.
Thakur had just sat down to eat home-cooked biryani with his son, Neeraj (3). His wife, Karuna (30) and their two other sons, Dhaval (7) and Roshni (11), were away.
The door to their house in the hutment at GT Hospital was ajar, the curtains drawn.
At 10.15 pm, Ajmal Amir Qasab and Abu Ismail opened the curtain and asked Thakur for water.
After the men drank their fill, Qasab picked up his AK 47 and shot Thakur dead a bullet in exchange for a glass of water.
It is in this backdrop that we decided to find out whether the tragedy that had befallen the family had changed them.
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Atithi Devo Bhava: Reporter Bipin Kumar Singh quenches his thirst at Jamnaben's home yesterday. Qasab killed her son after drinking water. |
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Yesterday, MiD DAY reporter, Bipin Kumar Singh, knocked on Thakur's mother, Jamnaben's door and repeated Qasab's request.
She was serving dinner to her son Bharat Waghela and said, "Oh! you want water? A man like you came to our house on November 26 asking for water.
We had been watching TV and had seen a news flash that there was firing at CST.
You know what happened after that. But don't worry, I will give you water, it's my duty. Punya ka kaam hai yeh," said Jamnaben.
Terrible memories
Her son Bharat came to the door with a glass of water and offered it to the reporter, "We usually avoid giving water to anyone in the night, but we won't deny you water."
It was only after Bipin drank his fill, that we told the family we were from MiD DAY.
Bharat smiled and said, "Of course, we will give any stranger water. But it brings back terrible memories."
Jamnaben added, "My room is opposite my son's [Thakur's] and I thought the men were commandoes [Qasab and Ismail were carrying guns].
u00a0
My son had just handed the men glasses of water, when I told them, 'My son is alone at home, tell me what you want?" said Jamnaben.
In reply, Qasab shot Thakur. "My mother kept shouting, 'Don't kill my son, but he didn't listen. His associate shot at my mother, but missed.
I pulled her inside the house and bolted the door, leaving my brother dying outside,"u00a0 said Bharat.
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Thakur Waghela's widow, Karuna, at her Mhada home in Sion. The shanty near GT Hospital where Thakur was shot dead. Read Next Story Trending StoriesLatest Photos |
