By Manzar Imam,
Mohammad Rafiquddin, former Regional Manager (RM) of Land Development Bank died at his native town Purnea recently. The sexagenarian noted former banking officer is survived by wife, three sons and two daughters. Rafiquddin topped the university and the State examinations respectively in both B.A. and M.A. and was posted as Land Evaluation Officer. Soon he rose to great professional and managerial heights and was promoted to Development Officer. He retired in 2001 as RM with around a dozen districts under his administrative charge.
He was born on 2 January 1943 at Mehdinagar village in Purnea district. His father Ataur Rahman was a well-known tehsildar.
Mohammad Rafiquddin with his wife
Alike his father, his elder son Shahzad Alam also topped Aligarh Muslim University with third rank in Economics and is now Assistant Vice-President with the First Gulf Bank in the United Arab Emirates.
His second son Shahkar Alam is about to graduate in Medical Sciences from a foreign university while the younger son is a student at Delhi University.
The Surjapuri community that forms the linguistic majority of Northeastern Bihar’s Purnea Commissionerate is better known for its academic backwardness. But Rafiquddin and his extended family set many examples in academic excellence.
Dr Nusrat Jahan, his younger daughter, became the first lady (MBBS) doctor among the Surjapuris. She is married to Dr Zaki Athar, both of whom have served in Delhi’s prominent hospitals and now they are running a joint medical clinic in Kishanganj town.
His death has grieved people from all sections of society. People from different parts of Bihar and parts of West Bengal thronged his Purnea residence Naaz Manzil and paid rich tributes to him.
He ranked first but gifted the gold medal to the 2nd ranker who desperately needed it for her personal career uplift as she came from a poor family, informed Shahzad Alam, his son. The interviewers told him that he was a fit candidate for Civil Services. But he preferred to accept the responsibilities of the bank over anything else.
He was equally known and respected by Muslims and non-Muslims. He was a man of great administrative acumen, says Moizur Rahman, Rafiquddin’s cousin who has been serving at the same bank. The bank made huge success during his tenure, adds Rahman.
He loved children and would call each with their name. He never wished ill for anyone and would encourage parents to send their children to schools and madrasas, says Zahida Khanam, Rafiquddin’s niece who is the vice-president of Bhopal-based Banaat Education & Welfare Society.
Well-known Muslim scholar and Member of Parliament from Kishanganj, Maulana Mohammad Asrarul Haque Qasmi expressed deep sorrow over his demise and spoke to his elder son over the telephone. Former Bihar minister Zahidur Rahman also condoled his death.
Hundreds of people from different parts of the country called Rafiquddin’s Delhi-based journalist nephew Manzar Imam and expressed sorrow over the loss. Mohammad Umar Gautam, chairman of Islamic Da’wah Centre, Delhi; Kocha Dhaman MLA, Akhtarul Iman; Tanweer Samdani, a senior office bearer at Jamia Millia Islamia; Rafiqul Islam Qasmi, a newly-elected AIUDF MLA from Assam; Md. Mumtaz Alam, Jamia Millia Islamia; Mufti Obaidullah Qasmi, lecturer, Delhi University; Advocate Minjaah Rasheed of Supreme Court; UNI journalist Abid Anwar; Abdul Qadir Shams Qasmi of Rashtriya Sahara; senior journalist Abdul Bari Masood and a host of other people from diverse spheres of life conveyed their condolence.
Mr Rafiquddin had been battling with multiple bodily complications including kidney failure since last three years. He had been under treatment in Apollo, Batra and Lions Kidney Hospital in New Delhi and went to his native town a fortnight ago where his condition deteriorated and he faced the inescapable reality in the early hours of 24 May.
He has died but left a shining example of a successful academic and professional career to serve as a guide for generations to come.
He led a simple life, performed Haj a few years ago and prayed five times. He was laid to rest at the Khazanchi Haat graveyard near Line Bazar, Purnea. May Allah forgive his sins, bestow upon him His pleasure and an exalted place in Jannah!
[Writer is a Delhi-based journalist and nephew of late Rafiquddin]