For Malappuram Munduparambu Shabana, a first-year student of BA Politics at Thrissur Sree Kerala Verma college, the daily commute to college was no less than a nightmare.
Shabana is a paraplegic — the lower half of her body has been paralysed since birth. The hostel of the college does not have attached bathrooms in the hostel rooms or ramps for wheelchairs. Her father, Salim had to bring her to college by travelling for six hours every day from their home in Malappuram.
However, Shabana’s struggle has now come to an end.
Madhu Chembakassery is an alumnus of the same college that Shabana studies in, and currently lives in London. When he and his friends came across her father’s story in Mathrubhumi, they decided to help her out.
With the help of the NRI Alumni Association of the college, Madhu bought a motorised wheelchair to present to Shabana. This wheelchair costs about ₹ 1.25 lakh.
Shabana received the wheelchair in a ceremony organised by the college authorities. Along with Shabana’s father and the college principal C. M Latha, the programme was also attended by the college union chairman Sanjay Krishna and general secretary Adithyan.
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The newly-acquired wheelchair will ease the commute for Shabana. What’s more, Shabana’s teachers and classmates have begun a hunt for an affordable rented house around the campus for her. Two students have also volunteered to stay with her, in case she needs any help.
This incident only goes to show how one good deed can be a catalyst to many more. We wish Shabana all the best in her endeavours and applaud the contribution of Madhu and the NRI Alumni Association.