Shahana and Safa: two shining models of new generation
text_fieldsSafa and Shahana
"Shahana Sherin
If somebody, who has heard about Shahana Sherin getting into different buses and collecting money for a penniless blind man whom she spotted in a bus-stand, asks her after a week about her rare act, Shahana would look unfazed. The daughter of Cholakkal Abdulrahman, from Aligarh Road in Cherukara, Malappuram, would rather look unmoved by the heap of kudos in social media or even by the felicitation at the assembly of Anamangad Government Higher Secondary School. All that the Plus-Two Science student would say is this: we cannot always standstill, and play the role of an onlooker.
The story of her rise to instant fame runs like this:
At two in the afternoon on 28 November, a man who would look quite normal at first glance, but is blind in both eyes, was singing at the busy bus-stop on the side of Perinthalmanna-Pattambi Road. But few cared to listen to what he was saying or singing through his little megaphone. In their hurry to board the buses to their destination, no one had a moment to spare for him. But he kept saying that he used to earn his living by his own labour and now having lost vision in both eyes, was left with no option but to appeal to people's sympathy.
Shahana who took pity on the man, but she had just two rupees left with her – enough to meet her bus fare. She felt she could have helped him if she had a little more money. When she noticed nobody was turning his eyes to the blind man, she promptly asked a youth standing by if him coud join her for something. Her plan was to sing a song, take two steps in dance, catch people's attention and then to put the matter before the people. When she realised that still nobody was volunteering, she decided to go it alone. All she needed was a bowl to stretch, which she couldn’t find. That was when her eyes fell on two students wearing caps. 'Can you lend your cap, I will give it back', she asked and got hold of the cap. Then she didn't wait to do the rest. Shahana Sherin was soon seen passing the cap to everyone around, pleading that it was for the blind man sitting there.
Passengers in buses who at first looked in wonderment at a female student in school uniform raising funds, soon got an idea of her mission. And then there was no stopping them; all of them extended their share in the drive. She did this in all the three buses that parked there. Within minutes, when the cap was full of cash, she took it, put it in the bowl of the blind man and walked her way back - as if nothing had happened except her mission accomplished.
The teachers of the Anamangad Government Higher Secondary School, who came to know about the altruistic best of their student, convened a special school assembly the very next day and recorded their appreciation.
Safa Febin – Rahul's chance find
Safa is not just a Malappuram girl's name now on. These fine letters again symbolise exuberant confidence of Kerala's new age teens. It is the name of the girl who dared to accept the challenge to interpret the speech of a national leader of India. The whole nation was amazed to see a little girl hailing from a remote region of Malappuram stealing the limelight of the country, all in a matter of ten minutes.
She is the youngest of five children of Kuttathi Odala Kunjumuhammad, a madrassa teacher, and Sara. She is a student of plus-two science class in Karuvarakkundu Government Higher Secondary School – one who eventually made a mark with a talent highlighted by Rahul Gandhi from more than four thousand students.
"It all happened before I could get any time to be tensed. When I learned that Rahul Gandhi was coming to the school, what I all planned was just to have a glimpse of him, pose a question if there would be an interactive session and if possible take a selfie with the young leader. But in the wink of eye, Allah made me this much. Alhamdulillah!!! (All praises to God)," Safa told as her eyes welled up with tears of joy.
"I understood the invitation to translate Rahul's speech in English. There was a call from my inner self." But she did not stand up at that moment. As the friends were busy in pressing each other, she mustered the confidence and moved on. "There was no time to get tensed as I walked through thousands. I was a bit confused, if it was a dream or real life as I shook hands with Rahul."
He gave the mic, asked for her name, patted on the shoulders, eased the pressure and started the speech. "Now I start with a couple of things", I interpreted it in Malayalam. I was not supposed to be shivery. After all, I was bound to defend the honor of the institution. The rousing response from the audience accompanied each of the sentences I delivered, added to the confidence. At the end, Rahul concluded the speech with a word of thanks to me too. He again gave hands and a chocolate. Then he held me close and posed for a photo. My eyes were teary as I got down from the dais of a fantasy to the ground of reality. I fell into the hands of those who buzzed around with words of appreciation. Everyone has a day and it was my day"
"I am grateful to many who made me like this. First words of gratitude are owed to our MP, Rahul Gandhi whom I admire very much. It was his talent that pushed a girl like me into the dais. And then I owe my debt to my teachers who moulded me like this, then to my parents for whom I mean everything. I am short of words to express my gratitude to them. As I was enveloped in heaps of praises, my father came to see me. All that I could do was to hug him tight and cry. My mother used to tell me that I am given to tears for everything silly."
That silly daughter has elevated the spirits of thousands in and around the family, school and the place she belongs to.