Jitender Singh Gurjar, a native of Bharatpur district in Rajasthan, has a unique habit – writing letters to the family members of martyred soldiers. A security guard at a private institution in Surat, Singh has been carrying on with this effort over the last two decades. In fact, Singh has proved that he is a different person by sharing the pain of other people.
Though Singh’s wife calls him insane, such barbs have not affected him at all. Pictures of the brave soldiers are displayed on the walls all over Singh’s home. He also maintains a database of all the information he has collected on soldiers.
Facts regarding the soldiers who lost their lives in action since World War I are available with Singh. He stores newspaper cuttings too on the issue which now weigh a whopping 900 kg.
Often, kin of fallen soldiers approach Singh to learn more about their loved ones. Singh claims he receives 30 to 50 phone calls a day seeking information.
Singh developed respect and love towards soldiers from his desire to join the Indian Army. However, he could not clear the physical tests to enroll into the army as he was not able to meet the required chest and height measurements. Finally, he was forced to abandon the dream to become a soldier.
Singh’s habit of writing letters to the families of martyred soldiers started from age 19, when he came across a note addressed to a martyr of a Kargil war. Singh felt that he should write to the martyr’s kin to shed some solace on the family and soon this became a regular affair.
