By Zaidul Haque for Twocircles.net,
Kolkata: Son of a poor carpenter, Rahmatullah Molla is today pride of the nondescript Daqaitmara village in West Bengal. When he won medal in 4×100 metres relay on Wednesday in the Commonwealth Games, villagers, thousands of kilometers from New Delhi – the host city of CWG – came out to congratulate Abdullah Molla, father of the bronze medalist.
Rahamatulla Molla comes from a poor Muslim family in West Bengal. Rahmatulla told TCN over telephone in the evening of Wednesday that, his excellence performance was by the grace of Almighty Allah, though lots of his well-wishers helped him.
TCN reached his native village next day and talked to his parents and family members.
Rahmatullah with his Medal in Commonwealth Games prize ceremony
Rahamatulla Molla lives in village Daqaitmara under Mathurapur Police station of West Bengal. At least 60 km from Kolkata, Daqaitmara is a remote village. From Mathurapur railway station towards Raidighi, there is a small market Krishnachandrapur. From this market a zigzag brick road goes to village Daqaitmara.
Rahmatulla’s father is a good carpenter by profession. Rahmatullah’s two brothers are also engaged in this occupation. Since his childhood Rahmat had a dream to become a successful athlete. He has been running at least 10 km daily in the morning. But his family could not buy him sports accessories. When he was studying in primary school his performance in athletics pleased the school teacher. His primary school teacher Sibuprasad Halder assisted him. When he achieved success in High School competition then another teacher Sudarshan Halder helped him.
Rahmatullah’s father Abdullah Molla, youngest brother, sister & mother
Rahmatulla has four brothers and one sister. At 2nd No in the siblings Rahmatulla is the first generation in their family to get education. Unfortunately he failed to clear madhyamik exam (10th Std). “Due to his devotion to athletics he failed,” said his father Abdullah Molla in an interview with TCN at his small hut.
Molla senior is a carpenter. He sometimes worked 18-20 hours to earn more money. But unfortunately he could never afford to buy sports kits for his son Rahmatulla. “When he was selected for Sports Authority of India campus training for all India Meet, then he requested me to buy some kits. But I was able to spend only 200 rupees for him,” said Abdullah Molla.
`Rahmatulla is our pride’ – poster in Krishnachandrapur Bazar, near his village
In 2006 Rahmatullah got a job of Kolkata Police constable. After his getting the Bronze, the Police Commissioner of Kolkata Police Gautam Mohan Chakraborty congratulated him and announced an award of Rs 50,000 and a promotion in his service. West Bengal State Sports Minister has also declared to honor him with Rs 2 lac award.
Rahmatulla’s home is beside a mosque where they offer Namaz. In front of the mosque his father Abdullah prays to Allah for great success in upcoming Asian Games and Olympics.
In Indian Athlete team in Commonwealth Games, six players were from West Bengal. Among them four are Muslim: Jhuma Khatun, Arzina Khatun, Sk Murtaja and Rahmatullah Molla.