Overview

• K.V. Rabiya, a Padma Shri awardee and champion of Kerala's literacy movement, died on May 4, 2025, after a brief illness at the age of 59.
• Despite being paralyzed by polio at 14, she spearheaded adult literacy initiatives and founded the Chalanam Charitable Society in 1992 to empower the underprivileged.
• Her work in literacy and social development earned national and international recognition, including the National Youth Award (1994) and Padma Shri (2022).
• Rabiya faced significant health challenges, including cancer and spinal injuries, but continued her activism, authoring an acclaimed autobiography in 2009.
• Kerala's leaders and community members paid tribute to her, with her burial conducted with state honors, underscoring her enduring impact on education and social reform.