Dedication Personified: A Teacher’s Unwavering Commitment Spanning Two Decades

Abdul Malik, a mathematics teacher, has been swimming across the Kadalundi River to get to school every day for over 20 years. This routine replaces a 12-kilometer road journey. Since 1994, he has not taken a single day off. He chooses to swim across the Kadalundi River rather than take a bus, which would involve a three-hour trip and multiple bus changes. Each morning, he packs his books, lunch, and clothes in a plastic bag secured to an inner tube. He then swims across the river, even during the monsoon season. This daily commute takes approximately 15-30 minutes. His students affectionately call him “Tube Master.”