Abdul Malik, a math teacher from Padinjattumuri, Malappuram district of Kerala, traveled through Kadalundi River in Kerala for more than 22 years.
He used to swim along the river to avoid long trips, which would involve replacing three buses.
“It saved me a lot of time,” he said.
He put the books and clothes in plastic bags, and once he crossed the river, he changed into fresh clothes. He used to follow the river about a kilometer a day. Despite his multiple challenges, such as strong currents and monsoon rainfall, Malik never missed a day of work for over 22 years.
Malik is passionate about environmental protection. He is worried about how rivers have been polluted over the past few years.
“The river is clean and clear, but now it’s polluted,” he said. He organized regular cleaning of drives with students to remove plastic, garbage and other contaminants from the river surface. Malik also teaches his students to swim, helps them overcome their fear of water, and provides them with basic life skills.
This article is from Suchithra As part of the internship program Deccan Chronicle.
