'Do blind people have hearts?'; Incredible story of Fathima, Kerala's best NSS volunteer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “ Do blind people have hearts?” Fathima, who was born blind, failed to hold back her tears when she heard this petulant talk from her younger relative. But this happened years ago and now the same Fathima is queen in many people's hearts.

This 17-year-old native of Melattur, Malappuram is one of the top four NSS volunteers in Kerala. Fathima, a first-year political science student at University College, is clear-sighted when it comes to helping people.

Even during her time at school, Fathima packed lunches for orphan students and sometimes gave dresses for free to these people. She also helped these students in their studies. It was during her later years, that she nurtured a habit of visiting palliative care and old age homes with the company of her father and uncle. She would sit in front of old patients and senile inhabitants of old age homes to hear their stories, morphing herself into a patient listener. Fathima who studied classical music from age four, would later hum songs for these people.

She has now conducted more than 100 medical camps and organ donation workshops. Currently, she is leading a program called 'Chehra' for students facing mental difficulties. She joined NSS in 2021 while studying in 11th standard at RM Higher Secondary School, Malappuram.

It was after the insistence of teachers that Fathima applied for for best NSS volunteer in 2023. She also received the Shrestha Divyang Balika Award from the President last year. Fathima speaks about 10 languages ​​including English, Turkish and Chinese, and learned all of them through YouTube. “In the future, I want to join the Indian Foreign Service after writing the Civil Service,” Fathima says hopefully.