Najeeb Muhammed – The Indomitable Spirit Of Resilience (Image: YouTube.com/VisualRomance)
Najeeb Muhammed”s name has now become popular ever since the announcement of the film ‘Aadujeevidam’ directed by Blessy. The much-awaited survival drama is based on a novel penned by Benyamin which has touched the hearts of many. Najeeb is the central character of the film and the plot of the film revolves around the extraordinary life experience of the protagonist.
Hailing from the village of Arattupuzha near Haripad town in Alappuzha district, Kerala had to spend three years enslaved in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Najeeb was a commoner who made ends meet by mining sand from a river until an opportunity arose in 1992. He was offered a visa to Saudi Arabia for employment promising a job at a supermarket. Wishing to have a better life for himself and his family, Najeeb gathered the funds for the visa. He in an interview said that he had to sell his land for Rs 55,000 which now may cost lakhs of rupees.
Upon reaching the desert land pocketful of dreams, Najeeb never really might have thought of the awaiting tragedy. After reaching Riyadh, while waiting for his recruiters at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Najeeb fell victim to kidnapping by an Arab posing as his employer. Completely unfamiliar with international travel and Arabic, the poor fellow was taken to captivity in a desert goat farm where he was forced into slavery and tasked with herding hundreds of goats.
The hardship Najeeb endured in the desert of Saudi is unimaginable. He endured over three years devoid of all basic needs, surviving solely on Khubus and above all facing frequent assaults from his Arbab. During the grueling two years, Najeeb was forced to take care of over 700 goats without any payment. In the forgiving desert, Najeeb was mercilessly beaten by his Arbab even when he was found crying.
Najeeb had to survive solely on Khubus which could not be eaten without the goat milk. However, amidst the prevailing darkness, Najeeb was able to find a glimmer of hope. In the god-given opportunity, the goat man embarked on a perilous journey to freedom, transversing the dunes to freedom. His hardship journey ends once he encounters a compassionate Arab who aids him in escaping. At last, Najeeb’s resilience ultimately led him back to his God”s own country.
Najeeb’s extraordinary tale end is not just a survival experience but a testament to the indomitable human spirit. The story will always remain etched in the hearts of all expatriates as a ‘triumph of hope’.
Najeeb is still amazed by his remarkable return back to his life. After returning home, he later then traveled to Bahrain where he worked for several years.
