Kerala literacy campaign leader K V Rabiya passes away

Malappuram

K V Rabiya, a 59-year-old physically challenged social worker from Malappuram, passed away on Sunday after a brief illness. Rabiya, who was affected by polio at age 14, continued her studies while confined to a wheelchair. She gained recognition for her active role in Kerala's state literacy campaign and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2022 for her social work contributions.

In 1992, she began an adult literacy campaign in Tirurangadi, helping countless illiterate people learn to read and write. She also founded ‘Chalanam’, a volunteer organization focused on education, health awareness, and disability rehabilitation. Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and undergoing chemotherapy, Rabiya resumed her work in social service. In 2009, she published her autobiography, Swapnangalku Chirakukal Undu (Dreams Have Wings).

Her dedication earned her several national and state honors, including the national youth award in 1994 and the Padma Shri.