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A lost gold ring and a debt paid off 55 years later

Dhaiali (Sivasagar District), ASSAM:

Former national discus throw champion Tayabun Nisha traced her childhood friend Julekha to return a gold ring the latter had lost in school back in 1967.

Tayabun Nisha (left) and Julekha
Tayabun Nisha (left) and Julekha

Guwahati :

When these two friends met after five decades, one paid off a debt never asked for and acted like the champion that she is.

Former national discus throw champion Tayabun Nisha felt heavy at the burden of an almost weightless finger ring of her friend Julekha, lost way back in 1967 at their Dhai Ali Girls’ High School in Assam’s Sivasagar.

More than 55 years later, Tayabun traced Julekha and arranged a reunion to reclaim those golden years that far outweigh the little ring. She gave her friend an envelope containing Rs 12,000 – the value of the ring.

“We were possibly students of class 7 or 8. Julekha was from an affluent family and she would come to school wearing gold jewellery. One day, she lost her finger ring in the class,” Tayabun, the first Assamese woman athlete to represent India in several international events, said recalling the incident.

“I used to go to school early to play games in the field. Those days, we had to clean our classroom. So, while cleaning it the next morning, I found the ring Julekha lost. However, I didn’t return it for the fear that I might be accused of stealing it and took it home. In due course, my father died and we faced a lot of financial difficulties. Perhaps, it was then that the ring was sold off by my family,” Tayabun said.

As time rolled by, the two friends lost contacts with each other and Tayabun landed a job in the railways in the sports quota but she was mentally disturbed all along.

“I used to think that since I cannot return that very ring to her, I will give her its value when I meet her. I thought I can expiate that way,” Tayabun, who has retired from service, said.

“But I had no idea about her whereabouts. So, I sought the help of my sister. After talking to a whole lot of people, she learnt where Julekha lives. Once I got her number, I called her up to say I would visit her. When I met her (on Tuesday), I told her everything. She initially refused to accept the value that I gave for the ring,” Tayabun said.

She said she would not have got the peace of mind if she had failed to locate Julekha and pay off the debt.

The softspoken Julekha was equally overjoyed to meet Tayabun after decades. “I feel happy that she came. I almost forgot her but she remembered me,” Julekha said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prasanta Mazumdar / Express News Service / March 24th, 2023

Tayabun Nisha, first woman from Assam to win medals

Guwahati,  ASSAM :

Guwahati:

It was the love for chocolates which dragged her to the field of athletics and she went on to become the first woman athlete to win a medal for Assam at the national platform. She is Tayabun Nisha who broke a national record in discuss throw in 1971 and represented the country in several international events across the globe.

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“When I look back to my childhood, it seems so funny. There used to be some village level competitions in my native place at Dhaiali in Sivasagar district on various occasions like Independence Day, Republic Day or on Bihu. Those days the winners used to get a box of chocolates. The love for the chocolates made me work harder to win medals as we could not afford chocolates. But gradually, I realized winning a medal also gives a recognition and later on I took it seriously,” Nisha told TwoCircles.net.

This how it started but the journey was not that easy as it seems. Belonging to a conservative Muslim family was another hurdle for her to take part in sports activities but could not deter her from the goal.

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“Losing my parents at an early age was a setback but it gave me the courage to fight back the odds in life. I lost my father in 1970 when I was a class VIII student. It doubled the responsibility on my shoulders to look after my siblings. There were people in our neighbourhood who used to say things about girl going out to take part in outdoor activities. But I simply didn’t care because I knew in the hour of crisis these people never came forward to help us,” said Nisha.

But earlier, her father was encouraging. All these developments always motivated her to be even stronger. “We did not have much facility to practice but I used to be always prepared mentally. I knew only my dedication can lead me to the success,” she said.

Then even when she was going through a bad phase, Nisha started working for the Railways at a salary of Rs 250 in 1970s.

In 1971 Nisha took part in the 9th Inter State Athletic Meet to make her debut in Ahmedabad. Bronze in that tournament created a history in sports as she became the first woman athlete from the state to won a medal in a national championship.

In 1974 in Jaipur broke a 12 year old national record in discuss throw throwing a distance of 29.32 metre.
In 1982 Asian Games she missed medals but it did not hamper her mental strength.

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“Though we worked hard before the games, I could not win a medal. But I was upset as I knew the reality. We were not up to the mark of other countries,” she said.

But a thought always haunts her that if they were provided better facilities, there would have been more medals. “We never had proper training. We did not have idea about the proper diets. But our contemporaries from other countries were well ahead than us. So I sometimes feel that we could have done much better,” Nisha added.

Now, she is planning to set up a sports academy and hostel especially for girls who are from poor families.

“As we have experienced lack of proper facilities for the rural girls, I’m planning to start a hostel where a young will be taken care of to build her sports career. But I’m not sure when we can start it,” she said.

On the present generation, the veteran athlete said that the determination is must. “One has to be determined to achieve. But unfortunately that kind of determination and hunger for success is missing among the today’s youngsters,” she said.

source:  http://www.twocircles.net / Two Circles.net / Home> India News / by Abdul Gani , Two Cirlcles.net / September 18th, 2015

Tayabun Nisha to train twelve school athletes

Guwahati, ASSAM :

Guwahati :

The uncertainty over the state’s Class XII examinations, scheduled from Monday, has not curbed the “sporting” instincts of the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council.

The council has roped in former five-time national discus champion Tayabun Nisha to train 12 athletes, who were picked up from among the participants at the first higher secondary and junior college students meet here in December. The shortlisted athletes will attend a special coaching camp under Nisha at the NF Railway stadium in Maligaon.

The council’s novel brainchild, the three-day meet at the Nehru Stadium had attracted 297 boys and 146 girls in seven disciplines — 100m, 200m and 1,500m-sprint, high jump, long jump, discus and shotput events.

It had formed a four-member committee — comprising Nisha, Assam Amateur Athletics Association secretary Sarif Ullah, Thaneswar Saikia and district sports officer of Nalbari, Bhupen Choudhury — to spot talent at the meet.

“The council should be lauded for its efforts. I will contribute my mite to make the camp more meaningful. The trainees will be accommodated at the railway sports hostel. We need more such initiatives for the state to do well in the National Games,” Nisha said.

“The camp will begin after the higher secondary exams. It will be a short camp of maximum 10 days,” chairman of the council D.K. Kakati said. The next course of action will be taken after the council’s physical education committee is formed.

“We hope the sports administrators of the state will take a look at our selected players because some of them could be groomed for the 2005 National Games,” he said.

THE SELECTED PLAYERS

Boys: Kamal Hainary (Darrang); Robin Baishya (Nalbari); Gagan Baruah (Kamrup); Dwipen Rabha (Darrang); Biju Barman (Kokrajhar) and Tultul Saikia (Dibrugarh). Girls:Mina Deka (Nalbari); Jonali Devi (Kokrajhar); Sundari Barman (Kokrajhar); Rupamoni Bora (Jorhat); Puspha Bora (Golaghat); Gitanjal Bora (Golaghat).

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta,India / Front Page> Northeast> Story / by Umanand Jaiswal / Guwahati – February 19th(20th), 2003