Every morning in the small town of Padinjattumuri in Malappuram, Kerala, a man named Abdul Malik begins his school day not by getting into a car or waiting for a bus, but by stepping into a river.
For more than 20 years, this mathematics teacher has been swimming across the Kadalundi River just to reach his students on time. Rain or shine, he has done it nearly every day, and what might seem unthinkable to many has become a daily routine for him.
From a Long Road to a Shorter Swim
Abdul Malik’s remarkable journey began in 1994. Back then, his commute involved a twelve kilometer road trip that required changing between three different buses. It was exhausting and took almost three hours one way. The road route was not only long, but also crowded and unreliable.
One day, a colleague suggested a different option. Why not swim across the river instead? What sounded like an extreme idea at first soon became his everyday solution.
Swimming with Purpose
The swim across the river is about one kilometer long and takes Malik around fifteen to twenty minutes. To make the journey safe, he uses a rubber tube tied around his waist and holds his belongings… books, clothes, and lunch, high above the water in a sealed plastic bag.
After reaching the other side, he dries off, changes behind a rock, and walks the remaining distance to the Muslim Lower Primary School where he teaches. He repeats the same routine in reverse when the school day ends.
Battling Currents and Creatures
Swimming in a river is no easy task. Over the years, Malik has dealt with strong currents, heavy monsoon rains, and even the occasional snake or floating debris. But he has never let fear or discomfort stop him.
His goal has always been simple: to be there for his students. Despite the challenges, Malik has never missed a single class because of the river. He is so consistent that locals say they set their watches by the moment he arrives at the riverbank.
