Muhammed Shameer B: Profile Of A Young Hero

Alappuzha, Kerala: Social services have been part of many people’s lives. Most of them work with no expectations in return, and only fulfill their urge to help people in need. Several of them will have a watershed moment that makes them realise their purpose, driving them to be conscious of others’ concerns and social activism.

One such selfless man who has dedicated his life to society since a very young age is Muhammed Shameer B, a native of Kayamkulam, Alappuzha, Kerala. For Shameer, the wisdom of social service was hit as early as his higher secondary school duration, when most of his peers were busy indulging in games. Once, when Shameer, along with his friend, went out skipping classes to hang out, he saw an elderly lady, a beggar as he said, eating food remnants in the street.

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The pain upon seeing the plight of the ailing woman striving to quench her starvation hit him harder, awakening his passion and consciousness for social service. Shameer is now the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Prathibha Award 2025 winner instituted by Kerala State Youth Welfare Board (KSYWB) to recognise young talent in various fields. He was picked for the award given his contribution to various social services, especially the sheltering of abandoned elderly people. Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian on January 5 announced the awards.

The current Organising Secretary of Gandhi Bhavan International Trust, which shelters orphaned and destitute people, Shameer’s name grabbed headlines through one of the elderly men, whom he saved and brought back to life.

He was a deserted elderly father with none to care for. Shameer took him and gave him shelter in Haripad Gandhi Bhavan for years. “When I knew that he had children, I contacted them and sent the father with them, and it was that elderly man who submitted the application to the Youth Welfare Borad for the award. “It was his pleasure and gratitude that the authorities considered me for this recognition,” he said.

Also, the General Secretary of Associations of Orphanages and Charitable Institutions, Shameer’s active social involvement started after one of his friends’ relatives succumbed to death when they couldn’t arrange blood in time.

The situation forced Shameer and his friends to think of beginning a blood donation body, kickstarting his first phase of social work with Kayamkulam Blood Donation Cell (BDC).

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In 2014, BDC received the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Prathibha Award from then chief minister Umman Chandy, and after ten years, he got the award. Speaking to Timeline, Shameer, who has been serving society without making any sounds, says he dedicates the award to all those who sweat striving for the needy.

Muhammad Shameer along with his affiliates

Shameer gives his award’ credit to Dr Punalur Somarajan, the secretary of Pathanapuram Ghandhi Bhavan. “I started as a worker of the organisation, later Somarajan made me the director of Haripad Gandhi Bhavan Sneha Veedu, which helped me to expand my work,” says the social activist. Now Gandhi Bhavan has over 20 branches, accommodating around 2000 orphans, disabled, palliative patients, children among others, Shameer claims.

Along with all other work, Shameer also serves as the working president of ACCOK, Association of Charitable and Cultural Organization of Kerala. The organization has a concept of ‘Food Alamara’ in different places in Alappuza and Kollam serving lunch for whoever hungry. The Alamara will have around 100 lunch boxes and anyone can have them. Moreover, ACCOK, which has over 50 members in Kayamkulam alone, also encourages and support social workers across Kerala.

Shameer with Punaloor Somarajan and Dr Joshua Ignathios

When asked about the underlying cause of the abandonment and the states’ responsibility to deal with it, Shameer says the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO)s are actually helping the government, which would be difficult to deal with for the government alone. He points out that people are increasingly abandoning their parents once they become a burden in their old age, adding that the trend of young people leaving for foreign shores for a better livelihood further contributes to the situation. The social activist also recalled many parents’ complaints about their children studying abroad, especially noting the negligence towards them.

Shameer hopes the awards such as the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Prathibha Award, apart from being a recognition for him, would motivate the younger ones to join the efforts and thus enhance more such initiatives, which has now become inevitable more than ever before.