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| Malik, A.M.Lower Primary School, Padinjattumuri East, Malappuram |
Maths is the subject that he teaches at school. And like a ‘fraction’ he crosses the river on the way to the school every day. His head and bag containing dress will be above water like the upper part of the fraction, while the body buoyed up by the tube of a maruti car forming the lower part of the fraction.
Malik has been literally swimming to the A.M.Lower Primary School, Padinjattumuri East, Malappuram every day for the past 20 years. At the time when he was appointed to the school, road transport was a slow-paced affair. From his residence at Anakkayam panchayat to the school at Padinjattumuri, it then took one-and-a-half hours by bus. It was his colleague Bapputty who advised the young teacher to save on time and bus fare by just swimming across the Kadalundi river. Malik knew swimming and he dived at the opportunity.
Does he feel tired or bored of swimming every day? Malik realizes that the river itself is fresh every day. True, as the Greek philosopher said, you cannot step into the same river twice.
Malik has plans to teach his students swimming. For the inhabitants of a village surrounded by the waters of Kadalundi river, this would certainly be a life-skill. His own four children hope to learn the art during next vacation.
Slowly, the goodness of this maths teacher is spreading across the district. Many cultural organizations and neighbourhood groups have honoured his gritty endeavour. “Till a bridge comes up in this area, I will continue to swim to the school. But there is no hope of such a thing happening during this century,” Malik smiles.
If even a tiny ‘fraction’ of Malik’s determination and resourcefulness were our assets, then many of our problems could easily be forded.
Courtesy: V.R.Jyothish (text), Ajeeb Komechi (photo), Vanitha, January 1-14, 2014
