K V Rabiya

K. V. Rabiya is a social worker from Tirurangadi in Malappuram district who has lived with a disability since childhood and became known through the Kerala literacy campaign. She was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of social work, from Kerala ^[1].

Learning against the odds

Rabiya was born on 25 February 1966 at Vellilakkadu, on the banks of the Kadalundi river ^[2]. Despite ill health she reached the tenth standard at Tirurangadi High School, riding to class on the back of her uncle’s bicycle, and finished her pre-degree course at PSMO College ^[2]. When she could not continue her studies, she became an avid reader and began tutoring local children ^[2].

Akshara Road

In 1990 she joined the Kerala literacy mission ^[2]. When officials visited her class in June 1992 they were struck by what she had achieved, and at her request they sanctioned a road, electricity, telephone and water for her village; the 1.5-km road was named Akshara, or “letter”, Road ^[2]. She also took part in the Akshaya project that made Malappuram India’s first e-literate district ^[2].

Chalanam

In 1993 she founded Chalanam, meaning “motion”, a voluntary organisation for children with physical and intellectual disabilities, which runs six schools ^[2]. It also offers health awareness, continuing education and training for women, a small workshop where women make goods, a library for women and a club for young people ^[2].

She was diagnosed with cancer at 32, and at 34 a fall damaged her spinal nerves and left her bedridden for years ^[2]. In that time she wrote Ente Mauna Nombarangal, and later an autobiography, Swapnangalkku Chirakukalund (“Dreams have wings”), part of which is in a Kerala school textbook ^[2]. She received the National Youth Award in 1994 ^[2].