Assam boy in Kerala masters 7 languages; Class Seven student Munawwar shines in Malappuram

Spending a few minutes with Munawwar Hussain offers a vivid glimpse of India’s diversity. The Class Seven student of Government UP School, Koottilangadi, in Malappuram, speaks seven languages — Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, English and Malayalam.

Although his father, Shahid Rahman, had arrived in Malappuram earlier, the family moved from Assam four years ago.

Until Class III, Munawwar studied in Assam and knew only Assamese and Bengali. After enrolling at Government UP School, Koottilangadi, he learnt the other languages through his own effort. He now speaks fluent Malayalam in the Malappuram dialect, and one would hardly guess that he is not a native of the district. The talented student has been selected as a best performer in this year’s Haritha Vidyalayam reality show organised by the Education Department. He will receive the award in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday in the presence of the Chief Minister.

Shahid Rahman moved to Malappuram with his wife, Majida Beegam, and their children, Munawwar and Sultana Parveen, in search of better education for his children and improved employment prospects for himself. He currently runs a sack-trading business at Kadunguth. Sulthana Parveen is a UKG student there.

The family hails from a farming background in Assam. Their neighbours in the quarters where they reside in Koottilangadi are North Indians, from whom Munawwar says he learnt Hindi. He picked up the other languages out of personal interest. He hopes to learn more languages, pursue higher education in Kerala and secure a good job. Most of his relatives continue to live in Assam. Munawwar worries that he may gradually forget Assamese due to lack of regular use. Among his classmates, he is now something of a star.

Headmaster Abdul Azeez Varikkodan said that 17 students from other states are currently studying at the school. While many other schools cite practical difficulties in admitting such students, “we embrace them,” he said, adding that the teachers stand united in this effort.

The school has also implemented an integration initiative titled ‘Kerala Saath Hai’ for these students.