Oma Rabha Needs Help To Reach Her Dream
A heartwarming story of Oma Rabha, a young martial artist from North Bengal, struggling to raise funds to represent India at an international tournament in Thailand.
As first seen in the Darjeeling Chronicle, and too important not to share the story of Oma Rabha..
Now then, gather ‘round, dear readers. I stumbled upon this gem of a story in the Darjeeling Chronicle, and I must say—it gave me a proper lump in the throat and a thump in the chest. You see, while the world spins madly on, tweeting and tooting about celebrity weddings and bizarre diets, a real story of grit, gumption, and glorious potential is quietly gasping for attention up in the tea-scented hills of North Bengal.
Her name? Oma Rabha. Remember it. One day, it may be spoken of in the same breath as Swapna Barman or even Mary Kom. But for now? She’s legging it from pillar to post, cap in hand, trying to scrape together a paltry sum just to represent India at the International Martial Arts Tournament in Thailand this March. Yes, India. Not her school, not her club, but the nation. The big league.
But alas, there’s no red carpet here. Just the same old trudge through bureaucratic molasses, knocking on doors that only seem to open after the medals are won and the cameras are rolling.
Oma, a Class 10 student from North Lothabari Hindi School, lives in Rabha Busty under the Kalchini block. She hails from the indigenous Rabha tribe, spread across Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, a region where opportunity doesn’t exactly come knocking – you have to chase it down with a torch and a pair of running shoes.
Her coach, the ever-determined Rajwari from Satali Busty, spotted her talent early and has been honing it ever since. Under his guidance, she’s already swept up golds at the local, regional, and even national levels. Quite the overachiever, wouldn’t you say? But despite her glittering record, the prospect of representing India abroad is hanging by a thread—stitched together by sheer hope and a few humble appeals.
And here’s the kicker—her parents are daily wage earners, scratching a living from the soil. Farming and hard graft. No posh sponsorships, no PR teams, just calloused hands and tired feet.
Dari Rabha, a local social worker, put it rather beautifully: “It’s a great honour for our community and region that one of our daughters has been selected… but unless the Government or NGOs step in, it will be almost impossible for her to compete.”
Well, quite. The time to clap and click selfies with gold medallists is not after the medal’s been won, but when they’re sweating it out just to get on the plane.
As her coach rightly says, “I don’t see why all of us can’t come together and pool in resources. If she gets to compete, she will bring laurel for our nation.” Hear hear, Coach! That’s the spirit we need—not crocodile tears and token platitudes when it’s all over, but some honest-to-goodness backing before the glory.
Let’s be frank—our politicians are rather good at swooping in with garlands and press photographers after the fact. But what about now? Where are they when the child needs airfare, not applause?
So let me ask, dear readers:
Can we, for once, step in before it’s too late?
Can we help Oma fly—not just to Thailand, but into the future she so richly deserves?
Here are her details for anyone feeling generous (or even just mildly heroic):
Name: Oma Rava
Address: Nimtai Forest Basti, Latabari,
Dist: Alipurduar, Pin: 735217
Bank Details:
Bank: State Bank of India
Account Number: 32339703853
IFSC Code: SBIN0001554
Let’s not wait for the medal to shine before we recognise the gem.
Let’s give Oma the fighting chance she’s earned, not with words, but with actions.
Time to put our money where our martial arts dreams are.
Oma Rabha – this country owes you a ticket. Let’s make it happen.
News sources and Picture sources Darjeeling Chronical
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