Literacy Activist, Padma Shri Awardee KV Rabiya Dies At 50 In Malappuram

Malappuram, Kerala: Social activist and Padma Shri Awardee KV Rabiya, who dedicated his life to advocating literacy and promoting education, died at a private hospital in Kottakkal on Sunday. She was 59, and had been battling cancer.

Rabiya received the highest civilian honor, Padma Shri, in 2022, and the Government of India’s National Youth Award in 1994.

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She was conferred the first Kannagi Sthree Shakti Puraskar for the year 1999 in recognition of her work aimed at empowering women. At the age of 15, while studying in the 10th grade, Rabiya became wheelchair-bound after contracting polio.  In 2000, she was diagnosed with cancer, and then again the activist went through more tough times as she fell and broke spine, leaving her paralysed from the neck down.

However, despite the physical challenges and health issues, Rabia continued to advance education and social empowerment. The wheelchair-user physically disabled activist has been a source of inspiration for many young people.

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Rabia was born in 1966 to Tirurangadi natives Kariveppil Moosakkutty and Biyachutty Hajjumma. She completed her schooling at Chandappadi GLP School and Tirurangadi Government School. Though she enrolled in a pre-degree course at PSMO College in Tirurangadi, she was forced to drop out due to health complications.

However, bent on to move forward, Rabiya continued her education, and became a prominent literacy figure in the state.