27/07/2025
Abdul Malik, a 42-year-old mathematics teacher at the Muslim Lower Primary School in Padinjattumuri, Malappuram, Kerala, has demonstrated unwavering dedication by swimming across the Kadalundi River daily for over two decades to reach his students. This commitment began in 1994 when he sought a more efficient alternative to the arduous 12-kilometer, three-bus commute that consumed nearly three hours each way.
Each morning, Malik secures a rubber tube around his waist, carries his clothes, books, and lunch in a plastic bag held above the water, and swims approximately one kilometer across the river. Upon reaching the other side, he changes into dry clothes and proceeds to school. Despite challenges such as strong currents, monsoon rains, and occasional encounters with snakes, Malik has never missed a single day of work in over 20 years.
Beyond his teaching duties, Malik is passionate about environmental conservation and swimming education. He often teaches his students to swim during the summer months and encourages them to protect the river from pollution.
His extraordinary dedication has earned him the affectionate nickname "Tube Master" among students and locals, symbolizing his resilience and commitment to education.
