When a Congress worker and former president of the lodhika Taluka Panchayat in Rajkot district, Gajrajsinh Jadeja, left cash and properties worth Rs 600-crore for his domestic help for 40 years of selfless service, he had probably not anticipated what would follow.
Jadeja, who died in September last year, made a Will stating that all his property, bank balance and cash should go to his domestic help, Kanak alias Vinubhai, for almost four decades of loyal service.
Vinubhai came to know about his fortune almost three months later when he was kidnapped by relatives of Jadeja who were expecting to inherit the property of their uncle. However, the police traced the abductors and rescued him in time.
A leading personality in Kshtriya community in Rajkot region, Jadeja was unmarried. He had a small piece of land in his village Virva and used to come to Rajkot regularly to meet his friends in the early 70s.
Jadeja was fond of throwing parties and whenever he used to visit Rajkot, he used to regale his friends in Milpara area. At that time, a young boy Kanak Jepal used to arrange snacks and cold drinks for Jadeja and his friends. Kanak, whom everyone used to call Vinubhai, became indispensable for Jadeja in due course.
In 1976, Vinubhai was down with TB. When Jadeja came to know that he didn’t have money for treatment, he took him to his village and offered him shelter and job. From that point on, Vinubhai became Jadeja’s shadow and Jadeja used to take care of him like a real son.
Though Jadeja remained unmarried, he insisted on getting Vinubhai married. It was Jadeja who also paid money for Vinubhai’s two children’s education in one of the costliest schools in Rajkot. In 1993, Jadeja suffered a massive paralysis attack. At that time, Vinubhai was there to serve his master. After that, Jadeja had many ailments and had an accident too, but every time, his loyal servant was there to take care of him.
“I never expected anything from Gajrajsinhji. He was like a father to me. He gave me shelter and gave the best education to my children too,” said 63-year-old Vinubhai.
Jadeja has given nearly 90 acres of farmland in Virva village, 150 acres of land on the posh Rajkot-Kalawad road, five properties in Rajkot, Khambha and Virva, besides fixed deposits, shares and debentures, as well as cash worth Rs 600 crore.