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Passing through a series of major health-challenges like polio-incapacitated legs, cancer or broken vertebra have not dampened the spirit of wheelchair-bound literacy-worker Rabiya who used to guide the commoners of Malappuram into the world of letters few years back. 

But 6 years ago, in the midst of these activities she was diagnosed with cancer.  Her first reaction of despair and grief soon gave way to a complete trust in the ways of God as she offered herself for surgery and painful chemotherapy at Amala Hospital, Thrissur.  She remembers with satisfaction that with the support of the hospital authorities, she could counsel other patients and instill hope in them.  Perhaps the prayers of the entire State and the Grace of God saw her come out successfully from that ordeal.

She even went for Haj to fulfil her cherished dream of thanksgiving to the Lord.  And as she prepared to come back to the literacy work, the next test of God unveiled itself 2 years ago.  Following a fall in the bathroom, her backbone was broken and she was partially paralysed below the neck.  Later, due to the non-functioning of muscles, she had to resign to a life with urine bag.  And as she lay on the waterbed, trying to cope up with the pain and inability, she started writing her memories on pages of notebooks using colour pencil.

The different challenges to her health played havoc with not only the family’s psyche but also their finances.  Yet, Rabiya, who had won a UN award among a host of other national awards for her literacy work, did not want to reveal her latest indisposition to the media and thereby cause a sure flood of sponsors for medical treatment.  Instead, lying on the bed, she wrote her memories painstakingly, word by word, and completed the book, ‘Mouna Nombarangal’

The book was released by Chief Minister V.S.Achutanandan on October 26, 2006.  She hopes to continue the treatment with royalty from the book.

Fate may have broken her back, but not her will, which now seems more attuned to the Divine Will.

Courtesy:"P", Kumkumam, December, 2006
Contributed by: Administrator

"The worth of a thing is best known by want of it."