Md. Kamal Uddin: The biggest identity of a person’s life is not his profession, not his wealth, not even his social status. The biggest identity of a person is his heart, his faith, his humanity. While walking on the streets of the world, we encounter countless people every day. We forget most of them. But some people make a place in our minds in such a way that their words are remembered for a long time. Because there is a kind of simplicity, a kind of truth in them, which is very rare in today’s artificial world. Today I am writing about one such person. He is not a big businessman, not a politician, not a famous person. He is an ordinary rickshaw puller. But the story of his life, the strength of his faith, his spiritual journey and his love for people have touched me deeply. His name is Emdadul Rahman. However, many people know him as “Bhandari”. This afternoon, I was looking for a rickshaw to come to my office from Kazi Deuri to Cheragi Pahar intersection. When I saw a rickshaw standing in the distance, I raised my hand and pointed. The rickshaw slowly stopped in front of me.
The first time I looked at the rickshaw driver, I felt that there was something different about this man. Dirty clothes, sunburned face, long black and white beard, messy hair, but a kind of peace in his eyes. There was no complaint in those eyes, no greed, no restlessness. It seemed that he was like a saint lost in the crowd of the world. Before getting into the rickshaw, I thought to myself – this man might be a follower of the Maizbhandari order. I got into the rickshaw and asked him, – “Mama, are you a Bhandari?” He smiled softly and said, “Yes, I am a Maizbhandari devotee.” I was not surprised to realize that my idea was correct. On the contrary, my interest increased. Then the conversation began. I learned that his real name was Abdur Rahman. At birth, his parents had given him this name on the advice of a Pir Sahib. Later, for various reasons, he became known as Emdadul Rahman. He was over sixty years old. He had spent most of his life as a laborer. Sometimes he works in construction, sometimes as a daily wage laborer. Currently, work has stopped due to excessive rain. There has been no work for a few days. So he is not sitting down and pulling a rickshaw. In his words, “If you sit idle, you will not be able to eat. No work is big or small. You only need to have a halal livelihood.” This one sentence is like the philosophy of his entire life. While talking, I learned that his home is in Patuakhali, Barisal. He has a wife, two sons and two daughters. He has married off his daughters. The sons have grown up. One is studying in Maizbhandar. His wife is his cousin. But the real story of his life begins around 1990. At that time, he was young. Suddenly one day, he felt like someone was calling him. It was not a human being’s call. It was not a relative’s call. It was as if an invisible force was pulling him. He said, “I didn’t understand what was happening. But I felt like I had to go to Maizbhandar.” At that time, he had never been to Maizbhandar. He didn’t even know where Maizbhandar was or what it was like. Yet a strange attraction brought him to Chittagong from his village.
Listening to his words, it was as if I was listening to the story of a character in a novel. Upon arriving in Chittagong, he first went to the Sikamai Darbar in Patia. He stayed there for a few days.
But his mind was somewhere else. His heart was waiting for a special moment. Finally one day he reached the Maizbhandar Darbar. That day was Friday. Urs Sharif was going on in the Darbar. Thousands of people gathered. Zikir, Darood, Milad, the whole area was filled with a spiritual atmosphere. And in that holy environment, he met Hazrat Syed Emdadul Haque Maizbhandari for the first time. While saying this part, his voice changed. A kind of emotion appeared in his eyes. He said, “I felt like I had found my lost place.” When a person finds his spiritual refuge, how does he feel—maybe I saw it in his eyes at that moment. After that meeting, he took the oath. He joined the Maizbhandari Tariqa. But surprisingly, Hazrat Emdadul Haque Maizbhandari told him, “You are still young. Go back home. Make a family.” But then his mind was no longer set on the world. He used to think, “How can I start a family again with the mind that I have left in Maizbhandar?” Seeing this change, the family became worried. Many people started calling him crazy. The parents thought that maybe everything would be fine if they got their son married. Finally, he got married to his cousin. But after the marriage, everyone understood that he was not crazy about marriage. He was crazy in love with Maizbhandar. Yet, he did not run away from the family. He took the responsibility of his wife. He raised his children. He fulfilled all the responsibilities of the family. But Maizbhandar was always at the center of his heart. Gradually, his wife also took oath in the Maizbhandar order. Then the children also followed their father’s path. Today, the entire family is a follower of Maizbhandar. This is like a unique example of the power of a person’s faith. The rickshaw was moving towards Cheragi Hills. We were talking. He was telling various memories of his life. There was no regret anywhere. There was no complaint anywhere. There was poverty. There was lack. There was suffering. But there was no despair. Such people are very rare these days. At one point, his wife came up. Suddenly, the smile on his face faded. He said that his wife was currently undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. She had been ill for some time. Then he said in a very calm voice,
“Brother, please pray for my wife.” In this one sentence, I felt the selfless love of a husband. His long-time partner is ill. He may not have enough money in his own pocket. Still, he trusts in Allah. The rickshaw stopped at Cheragi Pahar intersection, in front of the Dainik Azadi office. The fare was 50 taka. I gave him 100 taka.
He was surprised and said, “How much money?” I just smiled and said, “Keep it, uncle.” The smile that immediately appeared on his face was a smile of pure joy. There was no acting in that smile. There was no self-interest. There was only gratitude. I saw how much joy a little love can bring to a person’s face. Even today, the greatest strength in society is these people. Those who struggle every day. Sweat every day. Endure hardship every day. But do not lose their love for people. Emdadul Rahman Bhandari is not just a rickshaw puller to me. He is a living lesson in life. He has reminded me that faith keeps people alive, love gives people strength, and humility makes people great.
That afternoon on Cheragi Hills may one day be lost in the stream of time. But Emdadul Rahman Bhandari’s smiling face, his simple words, his desire to pray for his wife, and his genuine love for Maizbhandari will live on in my memory for a long time. Because the most beautiful stories in the world are often written not in palaces, but in the lives of ordinary people standing on the handles of rickshaws.