Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Feb 28: A farfetched, nondescript village in Kukdu Block is Kuda, a hamlet of farmers and farm hands in Saraikela-Kharsawan district adjacent to Jamshedpur
The villagers somehow eke out a living from whatever goes by the name of harvest. Getting two square meals a day may not exactly be a luxury but certainly a desire born out of what the people slog for. But that is definitely one of the many colours of poverty. Yet, to acquaint the children with alphabets and words is happily a drive which elders nurture for the children of the village. That is why the Upgraded Kuda Middle School has good attendance on the musters.
One among the enthusiastic learners of Kuda middle School is 14 year old, class 7 student Kajal Mahto who is already being seen as a gem of a girl destined to bring recognition and laurels for her village and state on the national cycling tracks. Kajal has been selected to represent Jharkhand in the Sub Junior Open national Cycling Championship slated to be held in Navi Mumbai from March 5. She was one of the competitors at the state level open cycling selection trials held at Ranchi on January 24.
The girl is definitely pedaling away to attain glory and the entire village is backing their girl.
Kajal is garnering support from people all around. Ichagarh legislator Savita Mahto personally paid a visit to her low roofed mud house where she resides with her family and gave her sweets and a pep talk in a mother-daughter heartwarming tete-a-tete.
The initially shy Kajal gradually warmed up as the conversation progressed. “I was not interested in cycling. I learned cycling just for fun and may be, to perform some home errands. My School’s Headmaster Laxman Mahto and coach and Saraikela District Cycling Association secretary Dilip Kumar Gupta urged me on, stating that I had the mettle in me to attain something greater beyond cycling for fun. Now that I have been selected to represent my state in the National Sub Junior Cycling competition at Navi Mumbai, I am targeting a gold medal,” with the determination reflecting in her twinkling eyes.
Kajal lives with her family in a low ceilinged mud house. Her parents Divakar Mahto and Basanti Devi are as elated as their girl. The parents are farmers who raise enough crops to feed the family albeit modestly. But expectations are not restricted to pecuniary status. Amidst the dim light of borderline poverty shines a gem that is destined to shine and set the village and state aglow. Kuda Upgraded Middle School Headmaster Laxman Mahto and Kajal’s coach Dilip Kumar Gupta are excited and optimistic of the cyclist’s success at the national meet to be held in Navi Mumbai from March 5. Mother Basanti Devi said, “We will do everything for our daughter. We will put in more slog for her to ensure she attains her goal. If we receive any government grant for our daughter, it will be a blessing.”
Gupta has demanded a training spot in Chandil Block to nurture budding talents.
Deputy Commissioner Arava Rajkamal, District Sports Officer Sanjit Kumar, District Cycling Association secretary Dilip Kumar Gupta and others have congratulated Kajal Mahto and have wished her success in the national meet.
An elderly man with wrinkles on his visage showing the number of years of, perhaps latent dreams leaned on his bamboo staff with a smile throughout the time spent in conversation. Curiosity got the better and as one walked up to him, one got the vague feel that he knew what was to be asked of him. He gave a toothless grin and said in local dialect, “Our girl will bring fame.” That could be the greatest blessing Kajal Mahto will carry with her to Navi Mumbai and pedal for the gold that may be hers at the end of the competitive rainbow.
