13-year-old Edison sells pothichoru to build family home; gains community support for tuition fees

KOCHI: "It's for my family, I'm not ashamed...!" declares 13-year-old Edison Angel, who has become a familiar sight beneath the Palarivattam bridge, selling pothichoru (lunch packs) and ghee rice. This 8th-grade student, alongside his carpenter father Angel and mother Elizabeth, took up this venture to alleviate their financial troubles.

The family, previously sustained by Angel's carpentry despite his disability, faced severe financial strain when work halted during the rainy season. In response, they began selling pothichoru and ghee rice, with each meal priced at Rs 60.

On non-school days, Edison assists his mother in the sales, joining her beneath the bridge. By three o'clock each day, they typically sell 60 packets of ghee rice and 15 to 20 packets of pothichoru. When sales slow, they creatively package the meals and sell them individually from a cycle.

Their daily routine starts at six in the morning with cooking, where Edison helps by chopping vegetables and packing rice. Previously, Edison and his brother Abin sold juice in Palarivattam during the summer. Despite the hardships, Edison dreams big. When asked about his future aspirations, he confidently says he wants to become a Commissioner. His decision to help his parents stems from his understanding of their struggles.

Living in a rented house on Ambedkar Road in Vennala, Edison dreams of owning a home. The family's hopes brightened when, after Edison's story and photo circulated on social media, a hotelier from Thiruvananthapuram stepped in to cover his tuition fees, easing one of their burdens.