KV Rabiya, state's literacy icon, dies at 58
Kozhikode:
KV Rabiya
, Kerala's literacy icon, whose indomitable spirit helped open the world of letters to hundreds and empowered countless others especially women and disabled despite herself being confined to wheelchair, passed away on Sunday. She was 59.
Rabiya, who had been battling cancer for over two decades, was admitted to a private hospital at Kottakkal after her condition worsened. On Saturday night she was shifted to her sister's house at Mampuram where she passed away. Her body was placed for public homage at Tirurangadi PSMO College from 1.30pm to 5.30pm and was laid to rest in the burial grounds of the local mosque in the evening.
Despite being confined to the wheelchair since the age of 14 due to polio and later bedridden following a spinal injury sustained following a fall, Rabiya defied all odds and became the beacon of hope and knowledge to women in her native village of Vellilakkad situated on the banks of the Kadalundi river and across Malappuram district.
Her inspiring journey also motivated many disabled individuals to rise above adversity.
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When the Kerala govt launched the
Total Literacy Campaign
in 1990, Rabiya was already running a small literacy centre in the verandah of her house, which also became a part of the state literacy campaign, and soon her literacy centre evolved into a model for literacy efforts across the state.
Media coverage of her work brought attention to the development needs of the Vellilakkad village and facilities, including roads, power and water supply and telephone connection to the village. The 1.5km long road to her locality was named Akshara Road (Road of Letters).
Realizing that literacy alone could not bring in social change, Rabiya expanded her work to include campaign against dowry, superstitions and other social evils.
But fate had far more challenges in store for her as she was diagnosed with cancer at age 32 and she underwent a mastectomy, and she broke her spine in a fall when she was 38 years. She also battled many other health issues, including gastrointestinal and two Covid-19 infections. But all that didn't dampen her determination to continue to inspire and empower others.
In 1994 she founded Chalanam (meaning movement), to lend a helping hand to hundreds of disabled children in their path to education by running six schools for them. The organization has also been active in rehabilitation of the disabled as well. Rabiya also launched several
women empowerment
and self-help initiatives, including a small manufacturing unit engaged in manufacture of paper pouches, handicrafts, etc. She also led the activities of Jan Sikshan Sansthan unit which offered several job-oriented courses for women and also ran a women's library.
Her life story inspired many and state govt had included a part of her autobiography 'Swapnangalku Chirakukalundu' (Dreams Have Wings) in the Class V Malayalam textbook. She also wrote the book 'Ente Mouna Nombarangal' and articles for magazines and newspapers. Three documentaries Rabiya Chalikkunnu, Oru Aksharam Oru Chuvadu and Pheonix Pakshi chronicle her extraordinary and inspiring life.
Even as a teenager battling polio, Rabiya never let her condition define her. She rode pillion on her uncle's bicycle to her school when she was in Class X and completed her pre-degree from Tirurangadi PSMA College. Though confined to wheelchair she started offering tuition classes to from her house and further immersed herself in the world of letters.
Her contributions were recognized with numerous honours, including the Nehru Yuva Kendra Award in 1992, National Youth Award in 1993, Bajaj Trust Award, UN International Award in 2000, among many others. The nation honoured her with Padma Shri in 2022. Rabiya was born as the daughter of Karuveppil Moosakutty and Beeyachyttu in Feb 1966. She leaves behind sisters Safia, Asiya, and Arifa. Two other sisters, Khadeeja and Nafeesa, had predeceased her.
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