Malappuram: KV Rabiya, an inspiring social worker and Padma Shri awardee from Kerala’s Malappuram district, passed away on Sunday after a brief illness. She was 59, reported the Varta Bharati.
Crippled by polio at the age of 14, Rabiya overcame immense physical challenges to become a beacon of hope in the field of literacy and social service. Confined to a wheelchair, she continued her education from home and dedicated her life to uplifting the illiterate and the physically challenged.
In 1992, she launched an adult literacy campaign in Tirurangadi, near her native Vellilakkad, and played a pivotal role in bringing hundreds of people into the world of reading and writing. Her efforts led to the formation of ‘Chalanam’ (meaning ‘Motion’), a voluntary organization focused on continuing education, health awareness, and rehabilitation of the differently-abled.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2002, Rabiya fought through chemotherapy and returned to her mission with renewed zeal. Her life and struggles were chronicled in her autobiography Swapnangalku Chirakukal Undu (Dreams Have Wings), published in 2009.
Rabiya’s first major recognition came in 1994 with the National Youth Award from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Her relentless work earned her the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2022, along with several other accolades from the Kerala state government and various social organizations.
Her demise marks the end of a life devoted to selfless service and education, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire countless others.
